Malaysia govt to help bird's nest traders soar again .Lee Yen Mun | The Star/Asia News Network | Sat Dec 1 2012
.Exporters are facing difficulties in understanding China's criteria for the re-entry of Malaysia's bird's nests.
Serdang, December 1, 2012
The Government is committed to helping local exporters who are facing difficulties in understanding China's criteria for the re-entry of Malaysia's bird's nests.
The export of the nests to China is on hold pending Chinese authorities audit of Malaysian swiflet farms.
Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said swiflet farmers should meet the requirements stated in the Certification and Accredi-tation Administration of China (CNCA) form to qualify for the audit.
He has met exporters who had completed the forms during the ministry's first coordination meeting held recently. Chua will be meeting 36 others soon to help them.
"I have urged the Veterinary Services Department and the Health Ministry to work closely with the industry so that more of these farms can fulfil the CNCA criteria for audit and help revive the industry," Chua said at the MAHA International 2012 agricultural show here yesterday.
The billion-ringgit swiflet industry has been hit by the ban on bird's nest exports to China for more than a year, after high levels of nitrate were found in the nests.
In September, both countries signed a protocol which gave hope for the local exporters.
Earlier, Chua launched several books published by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) in conjunction with the 10-day show.
Held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park here, it attracted more than two million visitors as of Thursday.
