RFID Latest

PUTRAJAYA: The requirement to use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to export swiftlet nests from the country of origin was not set by Malaysian government, but imposed by China, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong
He said as China was the importing country, all parties must respect the decision to use RFID, to enable the authorities to trace where the products came from.
“We respect the feedback of the industry players. Some which are against the RFID but we must respect the requirement of the China government,” he told reporters here yesterday when responding to swiftlet nest operators who are reluctant to abide by the requirement.
He added that though the RFID issue could be discussed with the Chinese authorities, Malaysia would still have to respect China’s final decision.
Based on the draft protocol from Malaysia, it was stipulated that the internal and external packaging of exported edible bird’s nest should be labelled with product name, weight, company name, address and registration number of processing establishment, product storage condition and date of manufacture.
“However, from the draft protocol that was sent from China to Malaysia, they have added an additional item, including the RFID requirement,” he said.
Recently, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the draft protocol on conditions on bird’s nest entry into China had been approved by the Malaysian and Chinese governments, and waiting to be signed.
Asked on the date, Chua said there was no specific date to sign it and it would depend on China.
Meanwhile, Chua said at the moment China has not issued any import permits to bird’s nest operators in Malaysia.
“We have received applications from industry players, but so far there was no approval from China for import permits. Nobody is exporting anything there yet,” he said. — Bernama


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/25/rfid-requirement-on-birds-nest-export-imposed-by-china/#ixzz21mYaaZBK

Association: RFID not practical for bird’s nest export

Posted on July 22, 2012, Sunday

KUCHING: Sarawak Bird’s Nest Import and Export Association does not see the need to use radio frequency identification (RFID) as a requirement to export bird’s nests to China.
Its president Liu Thian Leong said yesterday RFID was not necessary as long as the level of nitrite in bird’s nest did not exceed 30ppm (parts per million) as agreed by the Chinese authorities.
“There is no way for the government to install the RFID in every one of the 60,000 swiftlet farm houses in the country within a short time. It may need years to complete the installation work,” he said.
“RFID is not practical or necessary. Since the Chinese authorities have agreed with the 30ppm level of nitrite in the nest and we are able to comply with the requirement, the government should instead speed up the negotiation process.”
He was disappointed with the negotiation progress as the Chinese authorities halted the imports of bird’s nests from Malaysia last July.
He claimed that many countries did not implement RFID to export bird’s nests.
On top of that, the government also required bird’s nest exporters to fulfil certain packaging standard, Liu said.
“The government has said it would provide free packaging. But our question is, would it be provided forever? This would give room for certain parties to monopolise and manipulate the industry.”
Unnecessary regulations and formalities would hurt the bird’s nest industry which had contributed to the national revenue and jobs for more than a decade, asserted Liu.
“The market price of bird’s nests has dropped drastically from RM5,000 to RM2,000 per kilo. Many bird’s nest traders and farmers are facing liquidity. The government, especially the Health Ministry and Agriculture and Agro-Based Ministry, should listen to us and take immediate action to solve the issue.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/22/association-rfid-not-practical-for-birds-nest-export/#ixzz21J9qAjDb

Birdnest Soup for health

When there are plenty of EBN like this, we need to process it clean and ensure it is fit for human consumption

Aerodramu maximus

Aerodramus maximus spp only found in Borneo Cave. The price is cheaper because of the cleaning process involved to produce raw-clean EBN

Seminar on Malaysian Standards for EBN

SEMINAR ON MALAYSIAN STANDARDS FOR EDIBLE BIRDNEST INDUSTRY

DATE: 26 JUNE 2012 (TUESDAY)

VENUE: BILIK TUN SRI LANANG 1, LEVEL 6, GRAND BLUE WAVE HOTEL, JOHOR BAHRU



INTRODUCTION

The birdnest industry is worth multi million dollars in Asia. Malaysia alone exports about ten tonnes of what is considered the finest bird nests in the market, in comparisons to rival exporters from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia and the Philippines. However, with the tighter control imposed by exporting countries, China in particular, the Malaysian edible-birdnest industry must be fully equipped with the vital knowledge that could assist them in overcoming the resulting barriers that could arise during exports.



Realising the economic importance of Edible-Birdnest, Department of Standards Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA) had published a number of Malaysian Standards (MS) for Edible-Birdnest industry.



The Technical Committee on Edible-Birdnest (EBN) Swiftlet Ranching which developed the Malaysian Standards referred to in this seminar was established within the National Standards Development Systems under the purview of STANDARDS MALAYSIA, a government agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).



OBJECTIVES

To get an update on the latest development for edible-birdnest and swiftlet ranching;
To gain knowledge on Malaysian standards and their applications in swiftlet ranching and EBN processing;
To know the minimum requirements for EBN industry;
To know the export and import requirements for EBN;
To increase awareness on the importance of GAHP in swiftlet ranching & GMP in processing EBN and the benefits of such practices; and
To share experience and promote better understanding of the respective requirements and establish networking for EBN industry in Malaysia.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND



· Producers

· Importers/Exporters

· Government Officers

· Retailers

· Consumers

· Traders



PAPER PRESENTATIONS

Good Animal Husbandry Practice - Edible-birdnest Swiftlet Ranching and Its Premises

Dr. Fadzilah A'ini binti Abdul Kadir (Chairman of Working Group on Edible-Birdnest Swiftlet Ranching), Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for Processing Raw-unclean and Raw-clean Edible-birdnest

Dr. Zaliha Abdullah, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

Edible-birdnest - Specification

Pn Hajah Azizon Abdullah, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

Export and Import Requirements, Updates on China's Bilateral Negotiation and the Proposed RFID Application for Edible-birdnest

Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

Food Act 1983 and Food Hygiene Regulation 1985 for Birdnest Facility

Johor State Health Department

Industry Experience on Swiftlet Ranching & Processing of Edible-birdnest

Persekutuan Persatuan Pedagang Sarang Burung Malaysia

REGISTRATION (Deadline:19 June 2012)



Registration is on first-come first-served basis and limited to 200 seats.



Registrant may also submit nomination of participants by filling up the registration form via facsimile or email to:

En Mohd Fuad/Pn Nor Ashikin (Registration/Payment)

Tel: 03-5544 5108/5114

Fax: 03-5510 6389

Email: afuad@sirim.my or ashikin@sirim.my



Pn Siti Faizah Roslaini Othman (Details/Others)

Tel: 03-5544 6335

Fax: 03-5510 6389

Email: roslaini@sirim.my





Alternatively, registration can be also be done online at:



http://onlineregistration.sirim.my



FEE

RM160 includes a copy the following Malaysian Standards:



1. MS 2273:2012 - Good Animal Husbandry Practice - Edible-birdnest swiftlet ranching and its premises (First Revision)

2. MS 2333:2010 - Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for processing raw-unclean and raw-clean edible-birdnest (EBN)

3. MS 2334:2011 - Edible-Birdnest (EBN) Specification



OTHERS

The Malaysian Standards for Edible-Birdnests Industry as well as many other standards, are also available for purchase at:



www.msonline.gov.my



The following persons from can also be contacted for more information:



Mr Anuar Mohd Simoh - 03 5544 6102 (DID)

Ms Noor Rauna Ahmad Maher - 03 5544 6118 (DID)







Managed by:

Standards Research and Management Centre (SRMC)

Tel: 03-5544 5114/ 5108/ 6335

Fax: 03-5510 6389



Official Address:

SIRIM Berhad

1, Persiaran Dato' Menteri,

Section 2, P.O. Box 7035,

40700 Shah Alam, Selangor

Requirement On Exports Of EBN products to China

Posted on May 24, 2012, Thursday

MEASURES have been taken to ensure that all exports of bird’s nests are in compliance with requirements stipulated by importers in China.“Malaysia must go through licensed exporters who are in compliance with the quality and safety standard requirements and whose processing plants have been accredited with Veterinary Health Mark (VHM),” said Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

In his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday, Jabu said edible bird nest (EBN) was a very high value export item for the state and the country, with export value of EBN at about RM100 million per annum. “The constraint for not being able to export to China is due to the detection of high nitrate content in our EBN,” he reported.

According to him, the government is now encouraging bird nest farmers to adopt Good Animal Husbandry Practice (GAHP) in their production system to ensure that the EBN are safe for human consumption and to win back the confidence of consumers.

He added that two companies in Sarawak have met VHM requirements and pending approval from the Department of Veterinary Service Putrajaya, they will also be able to export EBN.

Presently, there are only eight companies in Malaysia with processing plants that are accredited with VHM and are eligible to export to China.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/24/steps-taken-to-ensure-birds-nest-exports-meet-requirements/#ixzz1vvwAkud6