China Lifts Ban on Malaysian Birds' Nest Import

 
Agriculture and Agrobased Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a statement that China has given nine local companies the "passed with condition" status recently.

He added two other companies were granted the "only passed after modification" status while four companies failed the audit that was conducted by China.

The nine companies are Sunshine Region Sdn Bhd; PT Swiftlet Marketing Sdn Bhd; Tian Ma Bird Nest Sdn Bhd; Kuan Wellness Sdn Bhd; Wing Shen Food Industries Sdn Bhd; Fucifagus Agritech Sdn Bhd; Yan Ming Resources Sdn Bhd; Golden Mah Bird's Nest Sdn Bhd; and Yen Pao Lai (M) Sdn Bhd.

The two other companies are Multiform Food Supply Co. Sdn Bhd; and Biogrow Resources Sdn Bhd, and the remaining four that failed the audit were Dama Jing Yi Yanwo Sdn Bhd; Amity AKF Enterprise Sdn Bhd; Sai Kim Enterprise Sdn Bhd; and Swallow House Enterprise.

The temporary ban on local birds' nest exported to China was placed in July 2011 after the Chinese authorities found that the quality of the birds' nest imported to the republic did not comply with the permissible nitrite level.

The red coloured nest or cave nest was found to contain more than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) level of nitrite which was unsafe for human consumption.

Ismail Sabri said that for the first batch, 20 processing plants had submitted their application and with the filtering done by the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), 15 applications were sent to China in March this year.

Following the submission to CNCA, Ismail Sabri said an auditing team comprising six auditors from the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) came to Malaysia in April to audit 15 processing plants.

"On June 18, a report from the AQSIQ authorities outlined the results from the audit process and the nine companies which received the 'passed but with conditions' statues, were required to carry out improvements to their plants," he said.

"A report on the improvements that have been done will be presented to China and another round of auditing will be conducted before an approval status is given to them."

"The Health Ministry and VSD will help the two other companies in carrying out their necessary improvements required by China."

He said the ministry would also help the other four companies which failed the audit, to make the necessary rectifications.