Malaysian bird-nest product maker in $200 mln distribution agreements

KUALA LUMPUR Nov 8 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Swiftlet Eco Park Group (IPO-SWEP.N), one of the country's largest makers of products developed from edible bird nests, has signed distribution agreements worth $200 million to sell its products to China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

The company, which makes coffee, skin care products, puddings and candies with nests made from swiftlets' saliva, on Saturday made the agreements with Hong Kong Yooly International Trading Company, India's Knight Associates and Dubai's Total Support Holdings respectively, it said in a statement.

Export licence for bird’s nests takes only 3 days to process

THE delay in issuing export licences for edible bird’s nests (EBN) is a non-issue as it only takes three days to complete, according to Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

“The process of issuing export permits for bird’s nest is quite simple. The applicant needs to be in possession of a valid licence from Sarawak Forestry Corporation to sell bird’s nest.

“As of May 2013, the government has issued a total of 3,526 licences in Sarawak for the purpose of exporting bird’s nest,” Awang Tengah revealed in his winding up speech at the sitting of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.

Touching on the matter which was brought up by Repok assemblyman Dr Wong Hua Seh, the minister added that there was no monopoly in the export of edible bird’s nest (EBN) in Sarawak.

He said the state government was aware of the problem of exporting to China.

The Chinese government had restricted the import of bird’s nest into the country and took precautions against the inflow of EBN products. The Malaysian government via the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry had proposed that several conditions to be adhere by local EBN exporters to export the commodity to China.

These included proper certification such as HACCP and GMP from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and Ministry of Health as well as identification (ID) registration from the DVS for traceability.

The aforementioned mechanism was still under due consideration until finalisation of auditing by China Certification and Accreditation Association, China Entry Exit Inspection and Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CNCA), the minister said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/28/export-licence-for-birds-nests-takes-only-3-days-to-process/#ixzz3r5VcR2zp

Three processing establishment may able to export bird’s nest to China

KUCHING: Three bird’s nest processors from Sarawak has successfully audited by CNCA and may get approval from Chinese authorities to export the commodity directly to China.

Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Liu Quan, said as many as 16 farmers nationwide had been given the licence to export bird’s nest directly to the republic, including the Sarawakian.

China had, in July 2011, banned all bird’s nest products from Malaysia, resulting in a huge drop in its price – from RM5,000 per kg to RM2,000. Liu Quan, who made a working visit to The Borneo Post recently, said China would be a huge market for bird’s nest industry and hoped that local farmers would not pack it in easily.

“The farmers should strive to fulfil the terms outlined by the Chinese government.

“The bright future of this industry lies in the fact that a bird’s nest centre is now being built at Qingzhou Industrial Zone,” he said.

Liu Quan disclosed that there were two ways for bird’s nest to enter China, the first of which would be via Hong Kong.

“The other way is to export directly into China, by applying for the necessary permit and meeting all the requirements including producing bird’s nest products with nitrate of less than 34 ppm (parts per million),” he said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Bird’s Nest Import and Export Association president Liu Thian Leong confirmed that there were three processors from Sarawak may qualified to export their products to China. He attributed this to the situation where many local operators found the procedures to export bird’s nest to China ‘too tedious’, or the requirements ‘too stringent to comply with’.

“Many of us prefer to export raw bird’s nest to Hong Kong. Being a place that produces this commodity, there are many buyers coming here including those from China and Peninsular Malaysia to purchase bird’s nest directly from our farmers.

“The price of bird’s nest has recovered a bit, although it is still low compared to its price of RM5,000 per kilogramme before the ban,” said Thian Leong, adding that another factor for the low price was abundance of supply.

Swiftlet farms can be seen across Sarawak, especially in the rural areas of the state’s central region. Sarawak Bird’s Nest Import and Export Association – touted as the oldest bird’s nest traders guild in Malaysia – now has more than 100 members, the majority of whom are from Sibu and Mukah.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/27/only-one-sarawakian-permitted-to-export-birds-nest-to-china/#ixzz3r5SZoAXY

Best quality edible nest from Sarawak

Raw unclean edible bird nest

Export Sarang Burung Walit Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -Realisasi perdagangan sarang walet Indonesia ke Tiongkok, pada Januari-Mei 2015 tercatat mencapai 5,2 juta dolar AS, sejak perdagangan sarang walet ke Tiongkok dibuka pada 29 Januari. 

"Jumlah tersebut berasal dari ekspor enam perusahaan walet di Indonesia. Jumlah itu sangat bagus, mengingat kita baru ekspor Januari silam, tidak berbeda jumlahnya dengan Malaysia yang mencapai enam juta dolar AS dari 14 perusahaan," kata Atase Perdagangan RI di Beijing Dandy Iswara kepada Antara, Jumat.

Dandy Iswara menambahkan"kualitas sarang walet kita memang lebih bagus. Dan ini yang perlu dipertahankan bahkan ditingkatkan di masa datang. Fakta tersebut juga dapat memotivasi para pengusaha sarang walet Indonesia untuk semakin berani dan percaya diri memasuki pasar Tiongkok,". 

Dia mengusulkan para pengusaha juga memasarkan produk sarang waletnya melalui e-commerce atau jual beli secara online.

"Hal tersebutperlu dilakukan karena masyarakat Tiongkok yang sangat menggemari belanja online. Pada 2014 jumlah transaksi melalui online mencapai 2,2 triliun dolar AS. Sedangkan pada lima bulan pertama 2015 jumlah transaksi mencapai 715 miliar dolar AS atau tumbuh 20 persen dibandingkan periode sama tahun lalu," ungkapnya.

Untuk makin memperkenalkan sarang waletnya, Indonesia khusus menampilkan sarang walet pada pameran makanan impor internasional di Beijing pada 3-5 Juli 2015.

"Kita membuka booth dan hanya menampilkan sarang walet, sebagai salah satu produk premium Indonesia untuk Tiongkok," ujar Dandy.

Ada perusahaan sarang walet yang terlibat dalam pameran tersebut yakin Adi Purnama Mranathajaya, Esta Indonesia, CV Sumber Alam dan PT Walet Kembar Lestari.

Di booth yang berbeda tampil pula PT Mulia Boga Raya, produsen keju. Indonesia dan Tiongkok sepakat untuk memantapkan perdagangan sarang burung walet setelah kegiatan ekspor-impor komoditas tersebut dibuka kembali pada 29 Januari 2015 menandai 65 tahun hubungan kedua negara.

Indonesia terbesar

Pada kesempatan terpisah Dirjen Kantor Administrasi Sertifikasi dan Akreditasi Tiongkok (CNCA) Gu Shaoping mengatakan Indonesia merupakan produsen terbesar sarang walet untuk pasar Tiongkok selain Malaysia dan beberapa negara lain di ASEAN.

"Tetapi karena sesuatu hal maka pada Agustus 2011 CNCA menutup sementara pembelian sarang walet dari Indonesia, namun akhirnya setelah melalui proses panjang, akhirnya kedua pihak sepakat untuk membuka kembali perdagangan langsung sarang walet antara Indonesia dan Tiongkok," tuturnya.

Kini, telah ada enam perusahaan Indonesia yang diberikan izin oleh CNCA untuk melakukan ekspor sarang walet ke Tiongkok, kata Gu Shaoping menambahkan.

Indonesia sebagai produsen harus mampu menjaga kepercayaan pasar Tiongkok terhadap standar keamanan pangan atas produk sarang walet yang dihasilkan, katanya.

Ketua Bidang Perdagangan Asosiasi Peternak dan Pedagang Sarang Walet Indonesia Boedhi Mranata mengatakan pihaknya menjamin produk yang dihasilkan telah melalui rangkaian uji standar keamanan pangan yang ditetapkan Tiongkok.

"Di Indonesia ada ratusan prosesor, namun hanya delapan yang dinyatakan sesuai standar keamanan pangan Tiongkok, meski kemudian hanya enam perusahaan yang dinyatakan layak untuk mendapat izin ekspor sarang walet ke Tiongkok. Ini membuktikan bahwa Indonesia juga sangat selektif, dan komitmen untuk menghasilkan produk berkualitas," katanya. 

Ekspor perdana tersebut diyakini akan menjadi momentum peternak dan pengusaha sarang burung walet untuk meningkatkan produksi. 

New standards for safe nitrite levels in bird’s nest

CYBERJAYA: The Department of Standards Malaysia is developing edible bird’s nests production standards and test methods to determine the safe levels of nitrite content for consumption and to meet stringent export requirements for China’s market.

Director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said a comprehensive study was being conducted by the department along with the Health Ministry.

The new standards are expected to be introduced by the end of next year, she added.

China had banned the import of unprocessed swiftlet nests from Malaysia before for allegedly having high nitrate content.

However, the export of bird’s nests in processed forms or ready-to-eat jelly or drinks (in bottles) was not affected, she said in an interview.

Currently, only 50% of swiftlet farming companies were able to export bird’s nests to China, she said.

She added that “with the introduction of the standards, we expect that up to 90% of the companies could export their products.”

Fadilah said the standard swiftlet farming initiated by Standards Malaysia since 2010 were the first of its kind in the world.

The development of standards of raw bird’s nests for authentication, quality, grading, packaging and labelling started three years ago, she said.

She said besides China, the Malaysian swiftlet nest industry also targeted new markets including Hong Kong, Japan and Italy to capitalise on rising demand. — Bernama

Good quality edidble nest from Malaysia

High stardard of processing facilities and practices of strict hygience and sanitation

The best quality of cave nest from Baram cave located in Borneo.

Authenticity of Edible Bird's Nest

Authenticity of Edible Bird's Nest

In recent years, there has been increasing reports of fake edible bird’s nests.  Starting in the 1990s, the first comprehensive report on authentication of edible bird's nests were published.  These reports demonstrated the possibility to use scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, flame atomic emission spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and other physico-chemical techniques to determine the authenticity of edible bird's nest. These tests were difficult to run, expensive and only worked on some of the substances used to imitate birds nests. Recently, a China based research team developed a simple but accurate and reliable spectrophotometry method to determine edible bird's nest content. The method is based on the reaction between N-acetylneuramic acid and ninhydrin in acid solution. The method evaluates the internal content of N-acetylneuramic acid, a nine-carbon sugars, which is one of the major components in edible bird's nest.

About the Author:   

Christopher W. Runckel, a former senior US diplomat who served in many counties in Asia, is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Lewis and Clark Law School. He served as Deputy General Counsel of President Gerald Ford’s Presidential Clemency Board. Mr. Runckel is the principal and founder of Runckel & Associates, a Portland, Oregon based consulting company that assists businesses expand business opportunities in Asia. (www.business-in-asia.com)

Until April of 1999, Mr. Runckel was Minister-Counselor of the US Embassy in Beijing, China. Mr. Runckel lived and worked in Thailand for over six years. He was the first permanently assigned U.S. diplomat to return to Vietnam after the Vietnam War. In 1997, he was awarded the U.S. Department of States highest award for service, the Distinguished Honor Award, for his contribution to improving U.S.-Vietnam relations. Mr. Runckel is one of only two non-Ambassadors to receive this award in the 200-year history of the U.S. diplomatic service.

Malaysia’s bird’s nest industry set to soar

KUCHING: Malaysia will be able to export 10 tonnes of raw clean bird’s nests to China monthly once the number of processing plants in the country reaches 40 according to Federation of Malaysia Bird’s Nest Industry Merchants Associations president Dato Lee Kong Heng said in the first batch, eight processing plants in the country had already been accredited by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA).

While  the second batch, 11 others await accreditation by CNCA, 13 others were in the midst of submitting their applications to CNCA for third batch and 10 more were expected to be constructed in a year, he added.

“This industry is going to see a better position in the near future as we are optimistic that the nine or elevent processing plants would receive their official appointments by CNCA soon. The level of confidence on our raw clean bird’s nests among Chinese consumers has risen, and this is definitely good news for our processing plants,” he told a press conference before chairing the federation’s 8th annual general meeting at M Hotel here yesterday.

Ever since CNCA accredited the eight processing plants in April last year, Malaysia accumulated export of raw clean bird’s nests to China hit eight tonnes (valued RM64 million). Lee said it was only since early this year that the export volume had been picking up.

To a question, Lee said the market value for raw clean bird’s nest was about RM8,000 per kilogramme, not including import tax.

According to him, raw unclean bird’s nests in Malaysia were currently below its market value. The federation hoped to hike up the value with China and Malaysia collaborating on the export.

“We are hoping to get some results on the export of raw unclean bird’s nests soon. It is also hoped the price will increase and that such a move will benefit our ranches.

“We want those who are interested in the industry to hang in there because there is still hope. With more processing plants coming up, industry players will stay more competitive.”

Meanwhile, secretary Dato Tiger Lee said the federation would also work on expanding export market to Europe and the United States.

He added the federation would collaborate with the relevant ministries to materialise the export market expansion so as to promote sales.

“All our processing plants have engaged more workers by doubling the number. As such, our productions will double in the future.”

In Sarawak alone, there are three bird’s nest processing plants audited by CNCA in July 2014 last year– two in Kuching and the other one in Mukah. All facilities are among the elevent plants awaiting final accreditation.

It was understood that at least between RM1 million and RM2 million would be required to set up a processing plant.

Among those present were federation deputy president Allen Tan, vice president Liw Chong Liong and assistant secretary Phang Kam Wah.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/06/29/malaysias-birds-nest-industry-set-to-soar/#ixzz3eRux3KVD

The best EBN from Baram Cave

The best ever quality EBN is from Baram cave. The price was as high as RM8,000 per kg of raw un-clean EBN

Quality Edible Bird' Nest from Malaysia

 Malaysia aims to produce high quality Edible Bird' Nest for world consumption. The food safety and traceability system for the industry is one of the best in the world.

Malaysian edible bird nest products maker plans US$30m Nasdaq IPO

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Swiftlet Eco Park Holdings Sdn Bhd, one of the country's largest makers of products developed from edible bird nests, said on Monday that it plans to list on the Nasdaq stock market.

The company aims to raise US$30mil through the offering of a 30% stake and the listing is expected within 18 to 24 months, chief executive CH Tan told reporters after signing an agreement with New York's QMIS Finance Securities Corp, its consulting partner for the IPO.

Swiftlet Eco makes coffee, skin care products, puddings and candies with nests made from swiftlets' saliva, a delicacy that has been popular in China for its alleged health benefits for hundreds of years.

The IPO proceeds will be used to fund its market expansion in Middle East, Europe and the United States, according to Tan. - Reuters

Koperasi Walit Sarawak Berhad (Dalam Penubuhan)

Koperasi Sarang Burung Walit  Sarawak Berhad (koWalit Sarawak) telah menganjurkan Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan penubuhan pertama koperasi  pada 24 Mei 2015 di Hotel 56, Kuching yang telah dihadiri lebih 68 orang bakal ahli. Tujuan utama penubuhan koperasi adalah:

1. Untuk menjamin kepentingan ahli terpelihara dalam industri walit, dilindungi dan diwarisi.

2. Memberi pendedahan terkini kepada ahli ahli berkenaan pasaran dan peluang perniagaan.

3. Menyatukan tenaga, dana dan kepakaran dalam memajukan industri walit.

Aktiviti utama koperasi adalah:

1. Menganjur kursus, Latihan, promosi dan roadshow.

2. Rundingcara & khidmat nasihat

3. Pemprosesan & import export

4. Projek ternakan walit , pertanian & agro-pelancongan

5. Pemasaran & peruncitan

6. Pencetakan & penerbitan.

Keahlian adalah terbuka kepada semua pengusaha walit diseluruh negeri Sarawak kecuali Kapit. Sasaran untuk mendapat minimum 100 orang ahli dengan yuran kemasukkan RM100 dan syer RM1000 setiap ahli.

Untuk keterangan lanjut sila hubungi Ms Calsline di talian tel: 082- 368668 di alamat  No. 698 D 1st Flr 

Tabuan Square Commercial Centre 

Lorong Keranji 4F Jln Keranji 

93350 Kuching Sarawak atau email asagrow@gmail.com

Indonesia may export birdnest to China

The launch of exports of bird’s nests to China marked the 65th anniversary of theestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which will becommemorated on April 13, said Soegeng Rahardjo, Indonesia ambassador to China inBeijing last Thursday.

The ambassador made his remarks at a press conference on Indonesian bird’s nest exportsto China in the Indonesian Embassy. “The first batch of bird’s nests were exported fromIndonesia to Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou on Jan. 29. This is an important milestoneafter a five-year-long process,” he said.

Due to food safety issues in 2011, the Chinese Accreditation and CertificationAdministration (CNCA) temporarily stopped bird’s nest exports from Indonesia. After along process, the two countries finally agreed to reopen trading. Now, six Indonesiancompanies have been granted licenses by the CNCA to export the product to China.

Soegeng emphasized that Indonesia is able to produce birds’ nests that meet quality andfood security standards in China.

Gu Shaoping, director general of the CNCA, remarked that China will increase itssupervision of the trade to ensure that the exports from Indonesia are safe forconsumption. Furthermore, a traceability system has been introduced to ensure comprehensive supervision.

According to Soegeng, Indonesia is the biggest producer of bird’s nests in the world,accounting for 70 percent of the total, while China is the biggest importer. Therefore, the provision of export licenses will benefit both countries. – People Daily

New GMP for raw unclean EBN

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Federation of Bird’s Nest Farmers of Malaysia (GPWM) not happy over a regulation by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) that allegedly affects the export of raw edible bird’s nest from Malaysia.

Its president, Allan Ho, said the issue was in regards to regulations governing the export of raw uncleaned bird’s nest.

Exported raw bird’s nest falls under two categories, cleaned or uncleaned, with the latter forming the bulk of exports to Malaysia’s most lucrative bird’s nest market, China.

He said early last year, the Department of Standards Malaysia had been directed to draw up new standards for raw uncleaned bird’s nest, with the final draft displayed for public viewing until Oct 19 last year.

However, Ho said, DVS also drafted the “Good Manufacturing Practice for Raw Unclean Edible Bird’s Nest” code, which was allegedly similar to an earlier code.

“China has noted that both categories (cleaned and uncleaned bird’s nest) had been placed under one category, despite being different.”

He said it was quite difficult the raw uncleaned bird’s nest to meet the microbiological and chemical parameter requirements under a single specification.

“This will affect the export of raw uncleaned bird’s nest from Malaysia, which will harm the financial position of more than 60,000 farmers.”

Ho said since the uproar, the farmers had been waiting for the green light to export raw uncleaned bird’s nest from China adding that “since last year, only raw clean bird’s nest has been allowed to be exported to China by CNCA.

He said this was worrying, as 95 per cent of the country’s bird’s nest products comprised raw uncleaned bird’s nest. The new regulations set by China he said, made it difficult for the goods to be exported.

The Department of Standards Malaysia and DVS could not be reached for comment.

NSTP