New Shopping Centre in Siburan

New Shopping centre in Siburan district. You can relax here before your next journey to Sri Aman.

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 after some nests were found to have imbibed excessive levels of nitrites.

Consequently, the Chinese government had restricted the import of bird’s nest into the country and took precautions against the inflow of EBN products from Malaysia.

In relation to the embargo, the Malaysian government via the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry had proposed that several conditions be imposed on local EBN exporters to export the commodity to China.

These included proper certification from the Department of Veterinary Services and Ministry of Health as well as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

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, the minister said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/28/export-licence-for-birds-nests-takes-only-3-days-to-process/#ixzz2UXi4VL4D

Gomantong able to produce 9 tonnes of EBN yearly

My recent visit to Gomantong cave discovered that this cave capable of producing 3 tonnes of white nest and about 7 tonnes of black nest yearly. Control harvesting imposted by Wild life Department Sabah proved to be effective. A Professor from UPM who is also in the group visit will conduct more research on matter related to the EBN industries in Malaysia.

We are hoping that the price will come back to normal after China approved the 15 establishment which they audited recently. 

With the experiences gained after the strict and detailed audit by CNCA, more processing plants are now aware of the requirement and also apply for listing through DVS, Putrajaya.

Simud Hitam Cave mostly populated by Aerodramus Maximus

There are 4 swiftlet entrance into Simud Hitam

Gua Mantong Cave is situated in the district of Kinabatangan, Sabah. It is the largest cave and the main producer of edible birds' nest in Borneo.

Very few export of EBN

Recently there is very few application for export of EBN probably due to China restricted the import.

We are hoping that very soon China will open up and start importing.

CNCA Closing Audit Meeting

A team from China concluded the compliance audit for 15 birds nest processing plants before they are allowed to export their products to China yesterday. The result will be make known officially within 60 working days.

During the closing yesterday CNCA said that they had conducted the audits over two weeks on the plants in Selangor, Sarawak, Pahang, Melaka, Johor, Penang and Kedah. Some plants are good and some are not so good and need major improvement.

The delegation comprised experts from China's Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA), China Entry Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ) and Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ), and was led by CNCA deputy director-general, Li Chunguang.

The Chinese authorities wanted to ensure the processing plants have good traceability and food safety system before they were allowed to export their products to the republic.

Last week during the meeting, Minister of Agriculture Datuk Noh said Malaysia and China had been holding negotiations to enable re-export of birds nest to China which culminated in the Cabinet agreeing to allow the Chinese authorities to audit the plants.

He added that Malaysia was the first country the delegation was visiting to to do the audits and this was possible because of the close ties between the two countries.

Chinese Delegation In Town To Audit 15 Birds Nest Processing Plants

PUTRAJAYA, April 9 (Bernama) -- A Chinese delegation has arrived in Malaysia to audit 15 birds nest processing plants before they are allowed to export their products to China.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the six-member delegation which arrived in Malaysia yesterday would conduct the audits over two weeks on the plants in Selangor, Sarawak, Pahang, Melaka, Johor, Penang and Kedah.

He said the delegation comprised experts from China's Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA), China Entry Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ) and Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ), and was led by CNCA deputy director-general, Li Chunguang.

"Prior to this, we had applied for 20 companies which wanted to export birds nest to China to be audited but after the applications were vetted by the Chinese authorities, my ministry and the Health Ministry were informed only 15 companies qualified to be audited.

"We hope the 15 plants will pass the audit so that we can overcome the problem we are facing about exporting birds nest to China," he told reporters after receiving a visit from the delegation at his ministry here Tuesday.

Prior to this, China had made it mandatory for birds nest exporters from Malaysia to meet three conditions, namely the products must have quality certification from the veterinary authorities, a Radio Frequency Identification (FRID) system approved by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and safety certification from the Health Ministry.

However, the local players objected to the RFID requirement and in September last year, China relented and allowed alternative technology for traceability purposes.

The Chinese authorities also wanted to audit the processing plants before they were allowed to export their products to the republic.

According to Noh, Malaysia and China had been holding negotiations to enable re-export of birds nest to China which culminated in the Cabinet agreeing to allow the Chinese authorities to audit the plants.

He added that Malaysia was the first country the delegation was visiting to to do the audits and this was possible because of the close ties between the two countries. Bernama

Chinese team to audit bird's nest supply chain before exports resume

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is only waiting for China to audit the supply chain before the export of bird's nest to the country can resume.

“This is the last hurdle.

"We can't say when they are coming because it is entirely up to them, but we are hoping it can be done as soon as possible,” Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Hashim Abdullah told a press conference.

He said the team of experts from China would also go through the applications submitted by 20 Malaysian bird's nest companies and audit the entire supply chain.

Mohd Hashim noted that there was optimism that former Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who was appointed by the Cabinet to help expedite negotiations between the two countries, would speed up the arrival of the Chinese experts.

“Once they are here, they will audit everything from the (swiflet) farm, to the traceability (of the bird's nests) along the entire supply chain,” he said.

Mohd Hashim said the Government was doing all it can to promote brid's nest, including taking into account the views of the industry players.