China trip to explain bird flu outbreak

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Agriculture ( MOA) and Veterinary Services Department ( DVS) will be sending representatives to China to explain the actual situation about the bird flu epidemic in Kelantan and the measures that have been taken to tackle it.

In a statement here yesterday, the DVS said the secretarygeneral of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro- Based Industry as well as the deputy director- general of the DVS will be in the delegation.

“Hopefully, the outcome of this visit will help China withdraw its temporary ban on the export of Raw Clean Swiftlet Birds’ Nest from Malaysia and to allow it to be exported to China,” it said.

It added that following the temporary ban, the DVS had immediately sent two letters to the Chinese authorities to explain the situation over the outbreak in Malaysia.

“Among others, the letters explained that the outbreak was only limited to certain places in one state,” it said.

It added that the source of

Hopefully, the outcome of this visit will help China withdraw its temporary ban on the export of Raw Clean Swiftlet Birds’ Nest from Malaysia and to allow it to be exported to China. Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and Veterinary Services Department (DVS)

Raw Clean Swiftlet Birds’ Nest products for export were all from swiftlet nests located outside of Kelantan.

“The source of supply can be traced through a system used by the DVS,” it said.

It also said the processing plant also used heat treatment which met the requirements set by China during times of disease, which was to heat the products to core temperatures reaching 70 degrees Celcius and maintained for 3.5 seconds.

Last year, Malaysia exported 20.15 metric tonnes of the product worth RM134.13 million to China. — Bernama