Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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

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