Ministry issues guidelines on
bird's nest industry
Utusan Express, 11 June 2003
PUTRAJAYA June 10 - The Science, Technology and Environment Ministry Tuesday issued a set of guidelines for a more systematic management of the local swiftlet's nest industry.Its Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding said the guidelines were applicable in the peninsula for the white-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and black-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maxima)."These guidelines are also needed to ensure that the local swiftlet's nest industry does not create any health problem to the population," he told reporters here Tuesday.Law said the guidelines were drawn out based on feedback from various agencies and bodies associated with the bird's nest industry.Among them are the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department, local authorities, Veterinary Services Department, Health Department, Department of Environment and Malaysia Bird's Nest Merchants Association.He said the guidelines were proposed at the National Workshop on Commercialisation of Aerodramus Fuciphagus Bird House in Penang last April 18.The local bird's nest industry has rapidly expanded and reached some 300 kg output a month. The price ranges from RM4,000 to RM5,000 a kg depending on its quality.He said the bird's nest merchants must adhere to the guidelines before they were issued the licence required to operate the industry."To obtain the (premise-operating) licence from the local authorities, the bird house operators must ensure that the structures are not built in housing, public and recreational areas except on agriculture or light industry land," he said."Use of loud speakers to lure the birds is prohibited and gazetted heritage buildings cannot be turned into bird houses," said Law.Law said harvesting of the bird's nest would be allowed only after the young swiftlets were able to fly.A permit from the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department (Perhilitan) was required for the transfer of the swiftlet's eggs from a building to another for breeding purposes.Law said the industry operators were required to submit their risk management plan while applying for the swiftlet's nest trading licence apart from keeping a record on their bird's nest harvest, import and export in a logbook issued by Perhilitan.They were also required to obtain a Perhilitan licence before being allowed to either import or export raw and processed bird's nest, he said.Law also said the Cabinet had approved a launching grant of RM1 million for the setting up of a fund to assist victims of attacks by wild animals."The fund is to assist victims of attacks by wild animals as there is no provision for this in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972," he said.Law said the fund would be managed by the Social Welfare Department while Perhilitan would prepare the reports which would be used to apply for assistance from the fund.He said RM5,000 would be given as financial aid to victims who were injured or crippled by the attacks and RM10,000 to the next-of-kin who those died as the result of such incidents. - Bernama
Major Swiftlet Farming Towns in Northern Malaysia
The following are just some of the statistics of swiftlet farming houses in some of the towns in the above states as at middle of June 2005*:
1. Georgetown - 400+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
2. Nibong Tebal - 600+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
3. Taiping - 400+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
4. Setiawan - 800+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
5. Parit Buntar - 400+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
6. Alor Setar - 300+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
7. Kota Bahru - 400+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
8. Bukit Mertajam - 300+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms
(Source: the Malaysian Swiftlet Farmers Association, June 05 Newsletter)
Throughout Malaysia, there is an estimated 30,000+ shop houses and commercial premises that have been converted into swiftlet farms in order to harvest edible birds nest from these swiftlets as at June 2005.We have a license and permit for export & import of the swiflets nest. If you need any arrangement or permit we able to do so.
Hasmadi Hussain
110A(1st.floor) Block A,
Jalan PJS 11/2 Subang Indah,
46150 Petaling Jaya.
email:hasmadibzline@gmail.com
Web:http//www.advancedhometraders.yolasite.com
hunting line: +6019-6440491
