Uggah: No import permit issued for dumped chicken wings
Sarawak allows the importation of poultry products (chicken wings) from approved overseas slaughtering plants that have been inspected and audited by Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia and Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim). Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister
KUCHING: No veterinary import permits were issued by the state veterinary authority for the three- container load of chicken wings that were dumped at Bukit Aup, Sibu, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Uggah, who is the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy, said the importation of the chicken wings was thus considered illegal.
“Sarawak allows the importation of poultry products (chicken wings) from approved overseas slaughtering plants that have been inspected and audited by Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia and Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
“Importation of these products must be accompanied by valid veterinary import permits issued by the state veterinary authority and the consignment must be accompanied by a valid Veterinary Health Certification and Halal certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country,” he said in a press statement yesterday to comment on the destruction of poultry products (chicken wings) by the Customs Department at a site in Bukit Aup, Sibu.
He said the recent dumping of the three- container load of chicken wings at Bukit Aup was only known by his ministry through the print and electronic media (newspaper and WhatsApp).
From further investigation by officers from the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, Uggah said the origin of the chicken wings was the Netherlands ( Holland) and not New Zealand as reported earlier.
“Importation of chicken products from the Netherlands was suspended on Dec 8, 2016 due to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ( H5N1) or Bird Flu. The disposal of the said items comes under the purview of the Customs Department.”
Uggah said the importer was still being investigated by the Trading Fraud Investigation Division of the Customs Department (Cawangan Siasatan Frod Perdagangan) for further action.
He advised all intending importers of livestock and livestock products to first consult the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak and apply the required veterinary permits as the disease situation of the exporting country might change from timeto-time.
He also advised all intended importers of livestock and livestock products to check on Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia website at www.dvs.gov. my.
Uggah warned that penalty for importation without a permit was very severe and the offender, if found guilty, could be fined up to a maximum of RM50,000 and/or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.
He also assured the public that the consumption of chicken wings produced locally or imported from known sources was safe.