Current Issues and Challenges in Edible Birdnest Industry

Malaysian academicians are working hard to address the current issues and challenges in edible birdnest industry. EBN is the most highly priced commodity in the world

Seminar On Standards For Edible Birdnest Industry In Borneo

Standards for Edible Birdnest Industry" akan dianjurkan oleh Jabatan Standard Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA) di:

Hilton Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak pada
4 Disember 2012 (Selasa)

dan

Hotel Pacific Sutera, Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah pada
6 Disember 2012 (Khamis)

Bersama-sama ini disertakan brosur dan surat jemputan seminar untuk perhatian dan tindakan pihak Y Bhg. Tan Sri /Datuk /Dato'/ Tuan/ Puan seterusnya. Kerjasama tuan/puan adalah dipohon untuk memanjangkan maklumat ini kepada pihak yang berkaitan.

Kehadiran dan kerjasama Y Bhg. Tan Sri /Datuk /Dato'/ Tuan/ Puan adalah amat dihargai dan didahului dengan ucapan terima kasih.

SEMINAR ON MALAYSIAN STANDARDS FOR EDIBLE BIRDNEST INDUSTRY

DATE: 4 DECEMBER 2012 (TUESDAY)
VENUE: HILTON HOTEL, KUCHING, SARAWAK

and

DATE: 6 DECEMBER 2012 (THURSDAY)
VENUE: PACIFIC SUTERA HOTEL, SUTERA HARBOUR, KOTA KINABALU, SABAH


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 including Cave Edible-nest (MS 2273 & MS 2503)
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, DVS & MOH Perspectives
Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries & Ministry of Health Malaysia

Edible-birdnest – Specification and Test method for Nitrites (MS 2509)
Pn Hajah Azizon Abdullah, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

Export and Import Requirements for Edible-birdnest
Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

Industry Experience on Swiftlet Ranching & Processing of Edible-birdnest
Persekutuan Persatuan Pedagang Sarang Burung Malaysia


FEE & SEMINAR PACKAGES
The seminar packages offered are as below. All packages are inclusive of seminar materials, refreshments and certificate.

Package A (RM270) – Participants are entitled to ALL five MS on Edible-birdnest as follows:
1. MS 2273:2012 - Good Animal Husbandry Practice - Edible-birdnest
swiftlet ranching and its premises
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
4. MS 2503:2012 - Good animal husbandry practice - Cave edible-nest
swiftlet ranching
5. MS 2509:2012 - Test method for nitrites in Edible-birdnest (EBN)

Package B (RM250) – Participants are entitled to four MS on Edible-birdnest as follows:
1. MS 2273:2012 - Good Animal Husbandry Practice - Edible-birdnest
swiftlet ranching and its premises
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
4. MS 2509:2012 - Test method for nitrites in Edible-birdnest (EBN)

Package C (RM250) – Participants are entitled to four MS on Edible-birdnest as follows:
1. MS 2333:2010 - Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for processing
raw-unclean and raw-clean edible-birdnest (EBN)
2. MS 2334:2011 - Edible-Birdnest (EBN) - Specification
3. MS 2503:2012 - Good animal husbandry practice - Cave edible-nest
swiftlet ranching
4. MS 2509:2012 - Test method for nitrites in Edible-birdnest (EBN)

Package D (RM160) – Participants are entitled to two MS on Edible-birdnest as follows:
1. MS 2503:2012 - Good animal husbandry practice - Cave edible-nest
swiftlet ranching
2. MS 2509:2012 - Test method for nitrites in Edible-birdnest (EBN)


PAYMENT METHODS
All payments to be made payable to SIRIM Berhad either by cheque, Bank Draft or Cash Deposit. Please mail payment with registration form to:

SIRIM Berhad
Standards Research and Management Centre (SRMC)
Block 3, Level 1
No. 1, Persiaran Dato' Menteri
P.O. Box 7035, Section 2
40700 Shah Alam, Selangor
Attn: Ms Nor Ashikin Jamingan

Payment via Cash Deposit can be made payable to:

SIRIM Berhad
Account No: 1205-1307404-05-6
Bank: CIMB Bank Berhad

REGISTRATION
Registration is on first-come first-served basis and limited to 150 seats.
Registration can be done online at:
http://onlineregistration.sirim.my

Alternatively, registrant may also fill up the registration form in the attached brochure and submit nomination of participants via facsimile or email to:

En Ahmad Fuad Taqiuddin Saleh / Pn Nor Ashikin Jamingan
Tel: 03-5544 5114
Fax: 03-5510 6389
Email: afuad@sirim.my / asikhin@sirim.my

Confirmation of reservation will be sent via email.
SIRIM Berhad reserves the right to make any amendment that is deems to be in the interest of the conference without any notice.

CONTACT PERSON
Registration:
Ms Nor Ashikin Jamingan/
Mr Ahmad Fuad Taquiddin Saleh
Tel: 03-5544 5114/03-5544 5108
Fax: 03-5510 6389
Email:asikhin@sirim.my/ afuad@sirim.my

Details/Others:
Ms Siti Faizah Roslaini Othman
Tel: 03-5544 6335
Fax: 03-5510 6389
Email: roslaini@sirim.my

OTHERS
Malaysian Standards (MS) on Edible birdnest, as well as many other standards, local international and foreign standards are available for your purchase. For further information, please contact our officer:

Pn. Noor Rauna Hj Ahmad Maher – 03 5544 6118(DID); Email:rauna@sirim.my

How To Set Up Birdnest Processing Plant

Here are the tips on how set up birdnest processing plant
1. Get site approval from council eg Commercial area
2. Register the business/ trading licence
3. Apply processing plant licence (Sarawak)
4. Register with Department Of Veterinary Service
5. Construct the factory according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
6. Apply for food safety certification from any certification body such as Moody International, SGS, SIRIM, DVS or MOH.
7. Finally get your plant accredited under Veterinary Health Mark (VHM). Download the form from google seach.

Good luck

Processing Of Cave Edible Birds’ Nests In Sarawak

By AIDA AHMAD
sundaymetro@thestar.com.my

From source to the pot, birds’ nests take a lot of painstaking and careful effort to produce.

SWIFLET nests which are harvested from caves are naturally nourished with iron and minerals. For those who have a gastronomic liking for birds’ nest, this piece of information may be of interest.

The reddish and yellowish tinge found in birds’ nests is actually a mark of authenticity, according to Dr Charles Leh, zoologist and curator of Natural History at the Sarawak Museum.

“When the nests come in contact with the cave walls they absorb the minerals and this is what makes them red. The cave walls and stones which are enriched with mineral elements such as iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium give the nests their colour,” Dr Leh says.

Quality control: Wong (left) and Richard are dedicated towards producing good quality birds’ nests

Last year, there was some uproar about the quality of birds’ nest, during which some processing factories in the country were taken to task for allegedly using dangerous carcinogenic chemicals to give the nests their reddish colour.

Confusion also arose as to which sort of birds’ nest was the real McCoy – the white or red/yellow ones.

“House nests have no mineral elements, therefore they should be white or have a light yellow hue, but never red unless the house was built with rock,” explains Dr Leh.

“This should be an indication of the authenticity of birds’ nests. If a consumer comes across a red house nest, they should know that it is fake.”

The finished product.

Birds’ nests refer to the saliva of a group of small birds known as edible-nests swiftlets. These thumb-sized birds weigh less than 5g. During the breeding season, which takes 45 days, each pair can produce a full nest of saliva, weighing as much as their own body weight.

The saliva is produced from a pair of glands located beneath the bird’s tongue. Both the male and female have a pair of these sublingual glands and contribute towards nest building.

The tri-colour Hua Yan birds’ nest (which contains red, yellow and white nest strands), trademarked by healthcare company and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) specialist Eu Yan Sang (1959) Sdn Bhd, is considered to be among the top-of-the-line birds’ nest product in the market.

Hua Yan birds’ nest is promoted as having a host of health benefits “such as 16 amino acids, five carbohydrates including EGF, MSF and sialic acid, and minerals”.

The raw cave nests with their reddish base.

Strict quality control goes into ensuring that the natural nutrients of each Hua Yan birds’ nest is retained before it is put on the shelf.

“The key is finding a supplier who processes birds’ nest the correct way without any chemical bleaching and in the end provides consumers the highest grade of birds’ nest. The craft of processing the nests is actually a key issue as it determines how much of the natural nutrients of the nests are retained after processing,” says Eu Yan Sang general manager Wong Kah Cane.

Kuching, Sarawak, is said to be the major processing centre for birds’ nests. For Eu Yan Sang, the main supplier is Double Swallow Enterprise, a processing factory located in Tapah, a small town about 40 minutes’ drive from Kuching.

Double Swallow Enterprise is owned by the Eng family, namely patriarch Eng Cheng Teng, 68, and his son, Richard. The 1,673sq m processing factory is where skilled workers from the nearby village work for hours to clean the raw birds’ nests, which are harvested from the caves in April, August and December.

“The nests are collected from the Niah and Gomantong caves by the locals. During the harvesting season, we will go there to inspect the quality of the raw nests. We bring back an average of half a tonne per trip. Birds’ nests are worth their weight in gold and there have been some instances in which people were robbed after they collected the nests from the caves,” reveals Richard.

The nests are soaked to soften them.

In Kuching, the nests are left to age for about a year to, according to Richard, “strengthen their molecules”.

“During the first collection, each nest should have a reddish base colour with black feathers sticking to it. The amount of feathers also depends on the seasons. The fewer the feathers, the thicker the nest, which is why it is important to collect nests during the right season. 

The rainy season is best because the birds retain most of their feathers, thus leaving less on the nests. Because of the presence of minerals from the cave walls, the nests will change colour after five or six months,” he says.

The Eng family business has been around for 50 years and was started by Richard’s grandmother, Chew Siew Lan.

“She started the business in Kuching. At that time, the raw nests cost RM200 per kg. Now it is RM2,000 per kg. Currently I help my parents run the business with the help of my nieces and nephews. I also learn a lot about the birds’ nest business from Dr Leh as we often visit the caves together,” says Richard.

The labour that goes into cleaning each nest to make sure it is pure and fit for consumers is intensive. “Of course, it is cheaper and faster to clean them using chemical bleaches but then all the nutrients and proteins would be lost or destroyed. We make sure that our supplier does not use any bleach whatsoever. There is no machinery used and everything is done by hand,” says Wong.

Each strand is assembled in a mould.
 

Processing raw nests

The nests are first soaked in hot water for 15 minutes to make them softer and to allow them to expand. The trick is not to soak them for too long.

There are 70 to 90 strands per nest. “The value drops if they fall apart so it is important to have good hand skills when working with them,” says Richard.

Next is the tedious process of removing the feathers from the nests. The workers painstakingly do this with sharp tweezers.

“They don’t use gloves to avoid cross-contamination. This is in line with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. Depending on the worker’s skills, each of them ideally needs to clean 1kg of nests per day.”

The nests are hung to dry for two to three hours (depending on the quantity) in a cloth sack to remove excess moisture. They are then kept in a cold room to prevent bacterial contamination. “We don’t re-soak and the temperature has to be perfect so that the nest won’t freeze and spoil,” says Richard.

After this, there is one more round of cleaning to remove any remaining dirt and feathers. “There are no machines involved here. We make sure the staff has good eyesight to pick up the tiniest particles. This is how we take extra precautions to ensure the end product is clean. All the work is done on stainless steel tables so there is no contamination.”

The next round of processing is done in an air-conditioned part of the factory. Before they enter this area, workers stand in a narrow corridor for 30 seconds in front of a blower (to rid themselves of dust) before they each don shoes, gloves, a vest and a hairnet. Such procedure conforms to the GMP standards.

Their work is to arrange the clean, luminous strands of nests into moulds. Thicker strands are placed on the bottom, followed by thin ones on the sides. The worker has to ensure that the strands do not break and to throw away the bad ones.

“Many of our customers complain when they see broken strands in the package. The average weight of each piece is controlled by the size of the mould,” says Wong.

Tedious process: Removing the feathers from a nest is a painstaking process.
 

Next, the mould is removed and the nests are placed on a steel tray with a wire mesh for another process of drying. This is done in a temperature-controlled drying room where the air movement is also controlled. After a few hours, the nests are packed in plastic boxes and shipped to Eu Yan Sang where they are re-packed with the company’s packaging.

“At Eu Yan Sang, we sell the birds’ nests according to pieces instead of weight because after some time, they become lighter. At that point they can easily break and must be handled with care. This is why we trust and maintain a good relationship with the Eng family as our supplier because we know how they operate,” Wong says.

Eu Yan Sang was founded in 1879 by Eu Kong, a migrant Chinese from Foshan, Guandong. It started in Gopeng, when Eu Kong noticed that the local tin miners widely used opium as a means to ease their daily pains and ill-health. He began to dispense Chinese herbal remedies as substitute to opium. This set the stage for the Eu Yan Sang story. “Yan” in Chinese means benevolent, kind or humane. “Sang” is birth, life or livelihood. Together, it means “Caring for Mankind”.

Tips on cooking birds’ nest

BIRDS nest is best boiled and consumed with simple rock sugar.

1.  Dip the nest in water for at least 10 minutes to remove any dust on the surface. For the Hua Yan nest, it is best to soak it for at least two hours. The red-coloured nest should be soaked overnight. When ready, the nest should be fully expanded and soft to the touch. If it’s possible, use filtered or cool boiled water for soaking the nest.

2. Do not throw out the water used to soak the nests. Pour it into a double-boiler pot with the nest and cook for two-and-a-half to three hours. Then add rock sugar according to your personal taste. (For home nests, boiling should not exceed 40 minutes, otherwise the nest will completely dissolve.)

The use of a double-boil pot is to avoid direct heating and a piece of cloth should always be placed beneath the top pot. Using boiled water and steam to “cook” the bird’s nest ensures that heat is regulated (less than 100°C) to preserve the nutritional goodness of the nests.

3. Turn off the heat. Do not open the lid yet. Let the contents cool for 30 minutes. The liquid should be smooth and clear

1kg bird’s nest limit for tourists

Tuesday January 17, 2012

By NURHIDAYAH RAMLI
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Tourists to Malaysia are now only allowed to take home a maximum 1kg of bird's nest.

“This is to ensure that no smuggling of this expensive commodity takes place,” Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar. He also announced that local companies would require three certificates to export edible bird's nest products to China.

The certificates are from the Veterinary Services Department, the Health Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Precious commodity: Noh (third from right) listening to assistant chemist Cassie Lee’s briefing on the commodity during a visit to PT Swift Marketing in Puchong yesterday. — Bernama

“After a company receives all three certificates, it will be allowed to use the 1Malaysia Best' logo and can export to China,'' Noh told reporters after launching the first authentic edible bird's nest trade and depository centre by PT Swift Marketing Sdn Bhd in Puchong yesterday.

He said the Government would not be held responsible for products without the “1Malaysia Best” logo.

Noh said previously only a Veterinary Services Department certificate was needed but due to the decline in quality, additional requirements had been added. He added that only eight companies had acquired the certificates so far.

Noh said the new rules were necessary because of concerns expressed by the Chinese government on excessive nitrite in bird's nests from Malaysia. “The two governments are discussing to determine the acceptable nitrite content. “It is impossible to get bird's nest with zero nitrite content but we hope to announce the figure soon,” he said.