PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is set to boost its economy as bird's nest exports to China resume, with an estimated RM90mil worth of products ready to be shipped soon.
Malaysia has officially resumed exports of edible bird's nests to China, a move expected to provide a significant boost to Malaysian bird's nest farmers, processors, and exporters, said the Veterinary Services Malaysia Department in a statement on Friday (Jan 17).
This follows the finalisation of a new export protocol by the Veterinary Department and China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) after exports were temporarily halted on Dec 20 last year, due to regulatory concerns.
"Several joint consultations were held with GACC to ensure that the protocol requirements comply with the interests of both countries and international veterinary guidelines.
"DVS also held several engagement sessions with industry players and discussions with relevant ministries to ensure that the requirements outlined in the protocol can be adhered to," it said.
The department said it will remain committed to maintaining high standards, ensuring all exports are safe, of good quality, and meet all regulatory requirements.
Recently, Malaysia faced a temporary ban on bird's nest exports to China due to a Newcastle disease outbreak. Newcastle disease is a contagious viral disease that affects birds, primarily poultry like chickens and ducks.
The ban was imposed as a precautionary measure after the World Organisation for Animal Health reported the outbreak in Malaysia.
The suspension affected both raw-cleaned and raw-uncleaned edible bird nests, which are major export products for Malaysia.
The decision to halt exports was made by the Malaysian Veterinary Services Department to ensure that the disease did not pose a threat to the bird's nest products intended for the Chinese market.
China is a significant market for Malaysian bird's nests, accounting for a substantial portion of Malaysia's exports.
In 2023, Malaysia exported 155.5 tonnes of bird's nests to China, representing 27.9% of China's total imports of the product.
