Swift action on bird’s nest issue

MADE IN CHINA
By CHOW HOW BAN

The health and agriculture and agro-based industry ministries are working with their Chinese counterparts on getting bird’s nest exports to China moving again.

WITHIN a week, delegations from two ministries were in China on a mission to settle the Malaysian bird’s nest issue.Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar led his senior officials on a visit to the China General Administration of Quality Super­vision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) during their official trip to Beijing on Nov 1-3.

The ministry and AQSIQ, which is responsible for inspection of imported and exported goods, agreed to set up a working committee on the procedural and administrative problems of the Malaysian swiflet industry. On Tuesday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai met his counterpart Chen Zhu, and their meeting turned out well, with some very positive developments.

First, China acknowledged nitrite was present in its natural form in Malaysian bird’s nest. Secondly, the Chinese government said it would allow the sale of bird’s nest imported from Malaysia again if these meet the new nitrite standards.

The Malaysian and Chinese health ministries formed a committee comprising food specialists and experts to determine the permissible level of nitrite in the product. The team will work around the clock to set the new standards. Nitrite is a toxic substance that may lead to chronic poisoning.

The positive thing coming out from these two ministerial meetings is that Malaysia showed it wants to resolve the issue as soon as possible and the Chinese side understood the urgency of the matter. The swift actions by both governments came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak highlighted the issue to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Oct 21 on the sidelines of the China-Asean Expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The directives from the top all the way down in both governments and the quick reaction and coordination that followed, again showed the solid trust and bilateral ties between the two nations. Malaysia cannot afford to wait any longer to resume its exports of bird’s nest to China. After all, the country is Malaysia’s largest market with total exported volume of 100 tonnes last year and 20 tonnes this year before the industry was hit by the fake bird’s nest episode.

In July, a local watchdog in Zhejiang province announced that majority samples from some 30,000 cups of bird’s nest contained nitrite levels above China’s health standards and fingered bird’s nest imports from Malaysia.

Following media reports on the so-called blood bird’s nest where high levels of nitrite had been detected, many Chinese consumers shunned bird’s nest. After the State Administration for Industry and Commerce issued a notice in August to local authorities to beef up inspection on bird’s nest to ensure food safety, most bird’s nest products were removed from the shelves.“Currently, the nitrite level permitted by the Chinese authorities is very low and the majority of Malaysian exporters are not able to meet the requirement,” Liow said. “The officials from the Chinese health ministry showed keen interest in addressing the problem.

“They accepted our explanation why there is natural development of nitrite during the raising of swiflets.

“While natural nitrite is allowed, we agree that there should be no nitrite addictive in the production of our bird’s nest. “We will now race against time to come out with new nitrite standards.”

Noh said once the standard was determined, his ministry would ensure all bird’s nest exporters registered with the ministry adhere to the new nitrite requirement. “The Health Ministry is looking into the food safety of bird’s nest exported to China while my ministry is tasked with certifying qualified bird’s nest producers and ensuring that all production procedures are fulfilled before the products are exported,” he said.

“We will also work with the Customs Department to beef up enforcement at airports to stop illegal exports of bird’s nest to China.”

Chinese statistics showed 500 tonnes of bird’s nest imports, much higher than the export figure of 100 tonnes reported by Malaysian authorities. This was because many exports went unaccounted for at exit points in Malaysia and were smuggled into China through Hong Kong as the mainland imposed a higher tariff. Unscrupulous processers add red dye and sell it as blood nest, which can fetch a higher price.

According to Federation of Malaysia Bird Nest Associations president Datuk Paduka Beh Heng Seong, there were some bad apples in the industry who sold bird’s nest to third parties for reproduction and repackaging.

In the wake of the import ban by China, the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry have directed industry players to implement the Good Animal Husbandry Practice and Good Manufacturing Practice standards under the guidelines for the development of the swiflet industry.

All the 56,000 producers and exporters must register with the Veterinary Services Department, which will establish a track-and-trace system to facilitate the movement of raw bird’s nest across the supply chain.

The ministry said it would share information on the export of bird’s nest with AQSIQ while making efforts to harmonise the standards for laboratory tests with its Chinese counterpart. Judging by the urgency of all parties, the target of having the new nitrite guideline ready and the import ban lifted before Chinese New Year should not be too far from reality.

Set aside for bird nest farming

KOTA MARUDU: Kota Marudu and Pitas will be the cluster areas for development of swiftlet bird’s nest farming for northern Sabah, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP, said the bird’s nest farming would be implemented in the two districts aggressively as a major economic contributor for Kota Marudu and Pitas.

He added that the Veterinary Service Department in its detailed observation and study had also identified Kota Marudu and its neighbouring Pitas as the best places in northern Sabah for the swiftlet farming activity.

Farm on top: A filepic of a structure used for swiftlet farming at the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu.
“This is due to the availability of water bodies and forests which provide feed that attracts a large population of birds. “The development of swiftlet farming clusters is being finalised by Pemandu as an NKEA project under Sedia (Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority) for community development,” he said after chairing the Parliamentary Agriculture Development Council meeting, here on Tuesday.

In the Kota Marudu district, 30 swiftlet hostels have been developed for commercial purposes while 43 projects had been carried out under the e-Kasih list of hardcore poor to generate income for poor rural folks.

A filepic of the interior of a swiftlet farmhouse.

In Pitas, 17 projects under the e-Kasih initiative are being carried out with each participant given an allocation of RM10,000, while 20 commercial swiftlet hostels have also been built.

“Many of the swiflet hostels in Kota Marudu have already produced the edible bird’s nest,” Dr Ongkili said, adding that the bird’s nest farming activity would offer income enhancement for the lower income group.
He has also received many inquiries from interested investors from Peninsular Malaysia and as far as Guandong, China who were keen to undertake swiftlet farming in Kota Marudu for commercial purposes.
A seminar on swiftlet farming would also be held next month to promote the activity to interested rural folks in Kota Marudu.

Later, Ongkili presented monetary aid to 13 families who lost or suffered damages to their homes during the floods that occurred in the district this year. Each of them received between RM1,000 to RM3,000 in aid which were allocated by the National Security Council — Bernama.

China to lift ban on Malaysian bird’s nest products

By CHOW HOW BAN
hbchow@thestar.com.my

BEIJING: China recognises the presence of natural nitrite in bird's nest and will lift the import ban on the products from Malaysia after determining a permissible level, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

He said the Chinese authorities understood that the presence of nitrite was a natural occurrence when swiflets were raised.

“We reached a very important consensus today after we explained to them why there is natural nitrite in our bird's nest.

“We agreed that there should be no nitrite additive in Malaysian bird's nest exports to China during the production process.

“But the Chinese authorities will allow the presence of natural nitrite in the product,” he said after meeting Chinese health officials here yesterday.

Liow said both sides had set up a working committee comprising food specialists and experts with immediate effect, to determine the permissible level of nitrite in bird's nest products.

The committee will be headed by the ministry's food safety and quality division senior director Noraini Mohd Othman and two Chinese officials from relevant agencies.

“The committee started work today and Noraini will stay in China to discuss how we will work out the details and the timetable for nitrite standards,” Liow added.

He had led a delegation of officials and bird's nest exporters to China to discuss the issue with the Chinese authorities following reports of fake Malaysian bird's nest.

Federation of Malaysia Bird's Nest Associations president Datuk Paduka Beh Heng Seong said Malaysian bird's nest exporters would adhere to the nitrite standards as long as the permissible level was reasonable.

“We have assured the Chinese authorities that we will further improve the quality of our products and restore Chinese consumers' confidence in Malaysian bird's nest,” he said.

Ministry to set nitrate level in bird's nest next month

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The nitrate level in swiftlet bird's nest will be set next month to ensure that the product can be exported overseas, especially to China, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

"Although we already have a standard, this will be a more comprehensive as it includes nitrate content of bird's nest from caves, houses and others.

"We will set the level and notify the Chinese soon," he told reporters after talks with bird's nest producers at his office Thursday. Confusion arose after the Chinese government announced that bird's nest from Malaysia contained high nitrate level harmful to health.

They decided that Malaysian bird's nest could only be exported to China if the nitrate content was zero.

Liow said the people were confused over nitrate content in bird's nest fearing it was harmful while nitrate was also contained in meat products.

"With permissible nitrate level, we are sure that it is safe. But if it (nitrate) is over the level, we will stop the sale of bird'snest," he added.

After the nitrate level has been set, guidelines will be submitted to Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry for enforcement purposes. - BERNAMA

Allow bird’s nest in for now, China urged

KUALA LUMPUR: China should allow Malaysian bird’s nests to enter the country while a minimum nitrite content is determined here, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He told a press conference yesterday that the ministry had written to its counterpart to allow for a grace period as many exporters could not meet the zero nitrite level requirement used by China’s port authorities.

“We are waiting for their reply at the moment,” he said, adding that the requirement went “against natural environment conditions” as bird faeces caused a certain percentage to be present in the nests.

“We have explained this to China’s Health Ministry and we are willing to work together. We are also working with the bird’s nest industry to determine the minimum nitrite content.”

Bird’s nest scare has not spoilt China’s appetite

IPOH: Recent reports of high nitrite content in some bird's nest products from Malaysia have not affected demand for the delicacy in China. Producers in Malaysia, however, need to practise strict quality control to restore the confidence of consumers in China, said Xu Yu Fei, vice-mayor of Wenzhou city in the republic's southeastern Zhejiang province.

She admitted that consumer confidence in China had been “slightly affected” following the reports. “Local producers need to redouble their efforts in promoting their products in China and to prove to consumers their products are of a high quality,” she said. Xu was speaking to reporters after a business matching and dialogue session between local businessmen and their counterparts from Wenzhou here yesterday.

She said local producers needed to improve the sales and marketing of their products, adding that consumers in China were now more careful when choosing bird's nests.Recently, the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry sent a team to China to allay fears over reports of nitrate poisoning from Malaysian-produced bird's nests.

Following the scare, the Health Ministry told owners of bird's nest processing premises to register their business with the ministry by Oct 1 to help it regulate and control product quality. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had said food items exported to China would have to be certified by the ministry and the Veterinary Services Department.

Ministry to set standards for swiftlet industry

KUALA LUMPUR: A study is being carried out by the Health Ministry to develop a specific standard for swiftlet nest and its products under the Food Regulations 1985.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was to enhance consumers' confidence on the safety level of swiftlet nest and its products since it was a new industry.

“Safety and quality control of all swiftlet nest products will also be upgraded to ensure they are safe and of good quality,” he said in a statement here yesterday. He said swiftlet nest producers would also be registered in the food premises registration system through http://fosimdomestic.moh.gov.my to make it easier for them to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.

Liow said the ministry has also introduced the 1Malaysia Food Safety Scheme (SK1M) to assist small and medium entrepreneurs, including producers of swiftlet nest and its products to carry out their own food safety control programme. He said the ministry would also work with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to ascertain the safety of raw swiftlet nests at the farm level.

“These initiatives are made to realise the government's aspiration of making the country's swiftlet nest industry a high-impact industry and to ensure its products are safe and of quality,” he added. - Bernama

Bird’s nest operators, premises owners urged to register

PUTRAJAYA: All bird's nest operators and about 56,000 premises owners nationwide are required to register with the Veterinary Department in the wake of the recent allegation in China regarding the condition of birds' nests imported from Malaysia.

Veterinary services director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said a database would be set up listing all bird's nest exporters, which can be accessed by importers from China for verification purposes.
"Through the system, only exporting companies that are approved by both Malaysia and China are allowed to export the item," he told reporters here.

Abdul Aziz said the registration exercise began this week. So far, 12 companies have registered.
"The claim by China recently that the 'red-coloured bird's nests' allegedly imported from the country containing nitrite is not true, because Malaysia does not produce that type of bird's nests. It might have come from other countries but was trans-shipped to China from Malaysia," said Abdul Aziz.
Under the new system, only birds' nests bearing the Veterinary Health Mark are allowed to be exported to China.

"The department, in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, will also set up a track-and-trace network system to enable consumers there to determine if the products are from Malaysia," he said.

The three-week period during which China ceased importation of bird's nests from Malaysia caused millions of ringgit in losses, according to Abdul Aziz.
The industry's annual export value to China alone is RM5 billion. It also provides 20,000 jobs.

Cheats use ministry’s name — N

Posted on August 17, 2011, Wednesday

BOOST FOR SECTOR: Noh (standing centre) witnessing the signing of two MoUs on agricultural training at Wisma Tani yesterday. — Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: Nest of cheats. Some unscrupulous quarters are using the name of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to market bird nest products overseas. These quarters were selling the products direct to Hong Kong and China without the Veterinary Health Mark (VHM) certificate, said the minister, Datuk Seri Noh Omar. He said he would advise China not to purchase the products without certification.

“The ministry takes a serious view of parties using its name to market bird nest products overseas. “We have not given approval to any individual or company to endorse their bird nest products as the best in the world. I will be visiting Shanghai soon to discuss with the Chinese Government on the export of bird nest products,” added Noh.

The minister was asked to comment on a foreign news agency report that certain parties were using the ministry’s name to market their bird nest products in China. He was speaking after the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoU) on agricultural training at Wisma Tani here yesterday.

One of the MoU, involving the National Agricultural Training Centre (NATC), Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and the Farmers Organisation, is aimed at setting up a marketing school, using the ‘blue ocean strategy’. Another MoU between NATC and Skill-Tech Institute was aimed at setting up programmes to develop skilled human capital and train entrepreneurs for entry into the Malaysian Agricultural College. — Bernama

Adhere to requirements, bird’s nests suppliers told

by Philip Wong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 11, 2011, Thursday

SIBU: The confirmation that China has not banned bird’s nests from Malaysia has put an end to speculations that Malaysian bird’s nests do not comply with the level of sodium nitrate content. Secretary of Sarawak Bird’s Nests Suppliers Association, Colin Wong, however, reminded industry players here to be alert at all times and to comply strictly with the requirements.

“Bird’s nests suppliers should ensure that their products do not contain more than 30ppm (part per million) nitrate grade level which is the acceptable standard in the world market and is in line with the Food Regulations Act 1985,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Wong was referring to the recent disclosure by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Chua Tee Yong that China had not banned bird’s nests from Malaysia. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China had confirmed this to the Malaysian Agriculture Counselor in Beijing.

Last month, the administration tested bird’s nests from Malaysia and found that samples did not comply with the acceptance level of nitrate in bird’s nests in China, which is zero. This gave rise to rumours that China had banned bird’s nests from Malaysia.

China is believed to be the only country requiring zero-nitrate for bird’s nests. The country imported about RM1 billion worth of bird’s nest products and is also the biggest importer of the item. Wong refused to believe that Malaysian swiftlet farmers and suppliers would stoop that low as to mix nitrate with the bird’s nests before supplying them to China, thus giving rise to all the rumours of a Chinese ban.

He said it could be the work of other bird’s nest suppliers who used Malaysian bird’s nests and mixed them with nitrate before exporting them to China. This gave the impression that Malaysian bird’s nests were mixed with an unacceptable level of nitrate, thus the ban. Lately, the prices of bird’s nests had dipped by several hundred ringgit per kg while the brand of one particular product dipped to RM4,000 from RM4,800 previously.

This had caused a temporary setback to the bird’s nests suppliers here. Wong, however, clarified that the drop in prices had nothing to do with the Chinese ban. He said the drop in prices had something to do with the grade of the bird’s nests, its colour, thickness and the overall quality.

“Sometimes, a group of people would come out and offer one lump sum to buy the products at reduced prices. This doesn’t mean that the price of bird’s nests has dropped,” he said.

Health Ministry to develop standard for swiftlet nest

Posted on August 5, 2011, Friday

KUALA LUMPUR: A study is being carried out by the Health Ministry to develop a specific standard for swiftlet nest and its products under the Food Regulations 1985. Its minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was to enhance consumers’ confidence on the safety level of swiftlet nest and its products since it was a new industry.

“Safety and quality control of all swiftlet nest products will also be upgraded to ensure they are safe and of quality,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

He said swiftlet nest producers would also be registered in the food premises registration system through http://fosimdomestic.moh.gov.my to make it easier for them to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.

Liow said the ministry also introduced the 1Malaysia Food Safety Scheme (SK1M) to assist small and medium entrepreneurs, including producers of swiftlet nest and its products to carry out their own food safety control programme.

He said the ministry would also work with the Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Ministry to ascertain the safety of raw swiftlet nests at the farm level. — Bernama

Bird’s nest tracking system to prevent fakes in the market

LABIS: The Government has come up with a swiftlet nest tracking system to prevent fake, adulterated or substandard bird’s nest products from being distributed in the market.Deputy Agriculture Minister Chua Tee Yong said the system could help prevent the local bird’s nest industry from being tainted by lower quality products.

“This system is still in the trial stage but we believe that once it is fully applied, it will help consumers to differentiate between fake and genuine bird’s nest easily,” he said, adding that currently, only chemical tests could determine the authenticity of the product.

Chua said this during the commercial launch of the tracking system, which was developed by the Veterinary Services Department, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission together with the Customs Department and the China Inspection and Quarantine unit here yesterday. Chua explained that recently, there have been concerns, especially from China, pertaining to substandard bird’s nest products from Malaysia.

Clamping down on fakes: Chua (left) posing with the tracking device. With him are (L-R) Department of Veterinary Livestock Commodity Development director Dr Fadzilah Aini, Yong Peng assemblyman Lim Kee Moi and project chairman Yow Lock Sen.

“Most of the time, these products had been adulterated, were fake or sold by some other country and labelled as Malaysian products,” he said, adding that this was the main reason for the introduction of the tracking system.

“The system basically includes a radio frequency identification device which allows users to track the product to the original source of production,” he said. He added that the Government had no immediate plans to make the system compulsory for bird’s nest farmers but many were already showing interest.

Group: Getting zero nitrite level in bird’s nest impossible

By WINNIE YEOH
winnie@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: It is not possible to get zero nitrite level in bird's nest as it is a naturally occurring chemical, Malaysian Federation of Bird's Nest Merchant Associations secretary Carole Loh said.

“Moreover, the World Health Organisation allows 30 parts per million of nitrite, which is widely used as a preservative in foodstuff.

“Nitrite can also find its way into the bird's nest during the cleaning stage as the use of reverse osmosis water has been found to increase the nitrite level,” she said.

Loh, who is also president of Association for Swiftlet Nests Industry of Penang, said China had banned Malaysian bird's nest in early July after it was found to contain nitrite.

“We are urging the Federal Government to hold talks with the Chinese government.

“We are hoping for a government-to-government talk as soon as possible as the export of bird's nest is a multi-million ringgit industry,” she said.

Loh said federation members also recently met up with Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Deputy Minister Chua Tee Yong in Putrajaya over the matter.

“In the meantime, birdhouse operators have been advised to take precautions and reduce nitrite traces in bird's nests by using effective microorganism water solution in the houses.

“Operators also have to keep the birdhouses clean and follow the guidelines given by the Veterinary Department.”

“Blood nest” a much sought-after variety of bird's nest was also banned after it was found to be tainted with chemicals.

Two local bird's nest manufacturers were ordered to cease operations last year for adding nitrates from artificial red colouring to produce “blood nest”.

Chua had said their unethical practice was discovered after the ministry received complaints from China importers.

Bird's nest is among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans and has been used in Chinese cooking for over 400 years, mostly as bird's nest soup.

Good and skillful workers

You need a good and very skillfull workers to process your birdnest. Quality must be observe in order to get very good price.

SCORE can boost bird’s nest industry

by Raymond Tan. Posted on March 17, 2011, Thursday

TALK FOCUSES ON SCORE: Organsing chairman Tang Tung King (right) presents a gift to Wei during the SCORE forum. From left are Datuk Ismawi Ismuni, the director of the Planning Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department, and Pelawan assemblyman Vincent Goh.

SIBU: The government is encouraging the setting up of processing plants for edible bird’s nests in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to protect the interests of local investors and consumers.

This can be considered good news to the ranchers as the industry has been booming in the Rajang River Basin in the last decade.

So far, the investors are very much on their own, and with the designation of an area in SCORE for them, their interests will be better looked into when these plants are set up. Presenting this talk in the SCORE forum hosted by Sibu Foochow Association in conjunction with their 110th anniversary, Joseph Wei of the Agriculture Department said local ranchers had been exporting raw bird’s nests.

He said after they were being processed overseas, the nests would be imported and sold to the local consumers. “We do not want the profit of this business to be flown out, and therefore, we want the processing plants to be set up in SCORE.” He said a 10-hectare plot had been drawn up in Tanjung Manis for bird’s nest investment, and they wanted investors to be involved in the two-tier commitment in both producing and processing.

Wei said about 70,000 sq km of land in Central Sarawak had been drawn out for SCORE, and of these, 40,000 sq km in Tanjung Manis would be allocated for farmers. He said the investment was expected to generate a market value of RM1 trillion in future. “The government will set up 10 zones for aquaculture, of which, six are within SCORE – three in Tanjung Manis and one each in Selalang, Murun and Bakun.

“With the help from the Federal Government, we shall start the ones in Selalang and Bakun first. The government will provide road, water and electricity.”

He said Selalang was an area designated for marine prawn production and Bakun and Murun for fresh water fish production.  “Bakun, covering 6,400 hectares, will start next year. It is projected to produce 17,000 tonnes of fresh water fish annually. “For Murun, we expect another production of 5,800 tonnes of fish annually while Selalang can produce up to 4,000-plus tonnes of prawns.” For investment in livestock, he said they would rear goats, sheep and cattle, and this investment would include the production of edible bird’s nests too.

For cattle rearing, he said it would be integrated in the palm oil plantations. “Last year, 400,000 hectares in the plantations were set up.”To help the investors, he said the government would ensure that the quality of food produced in SCORE met international health standards. “The Malaysia Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) will give out incentives and allowances to help the farmers.”

Great Potential For Edible Bird's Nest Processing Industry

If you have the capital and export knowlegde especially exporting to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, China and Japan, then setting up a HACCP compliance bird's nest processing plant  has a very huge potential. Your market is unlimited and the potential income is great. Imagine for the price of  clean raw EBN can fetch a handsome RM 6,000 to RM 7,000 per kilogramme. The raw unclean price is about RM 3,500 to RM 4,500 depending on quality.

You can buy a ready make semi-D light industrial lot which may cost only RM 1 millions. In the case of Sarawak, the ideal location would be at Batu Kitang, 10th Miles and 6th Miles. The reason I recommend this site is because the availability of local workers. Good work force is very critical in the processing industry.

130 - 150 pieces equivalent to 1 kg

Cleaning EBN is a tedious task  which required skill

Raw Unclean EBN value up to RM4,500 per kg

Clean Raw Edible Bird's Nest  can fetch a whole sale price of RM7,500 per kilogramme