Malaysia may ease pork import measures

 

 

The Malaysian government may relax the import conditions for pork if the prices of the meat continue to surge unreasonably.

 

Pork prices had gone up more than 4% from October 2009 to MYR7.60 a kilogramme, according to reports.

 

Malaysian Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri feel the government should allow pork to be imported if the price hike is unreasonable.

 

However, Ismail said, as the issuance of permits for pork import is under the purview of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, he has to discuss the matter with its minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar.

 

He also said the agriculture ministry did issue such permits during Chinese New Year some two months ago, but he would suggest that importers be allowed to import frozen pork throughout the year.

 

The Federation of Livestock Farmers' Associations of Malaysia announced last week that due to excessive demand, pork price would be further increased to MYR7.90 a kilogramme.

 

Another reason contributing to the price hike was the surge in the prices of pigs' feedstuff, said the federation. Corn price was MYR400 ringgit a tonne three to four years ago but it has more than doubled to MYR860 a tonne now, according to reports. The federation has hoped that the price level could prevail until end of this year.

 

The Pork Sellers Association of Malaysia described the record high price as incredible, while expecting the retail prices of pork to rise between MYR0.60 to MYR1.00.

 

Meanwhile, reports attributed the latest hike in pork prices to a shortage in supply as the number of pigs in Peninsular Malaysia has dropped from 1.61 million in 2008 to 1.31 million at present.

 

Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia's pig unit head Beh Kim Hee explained this was because of the closure of some 60 pig farms in Malacca, Johor, Penang and Perak over the past two years, reducing the number of pig farms in the peninsula to about 600 now.

 

Beh said another 61 pig farms in Perak may also be forced to close due to land problems.

 

He urged the state governments of Malacca, Penang, Perak and Johor to give pig farm operators affected by development projects or facing land problems time to look for alternative sites to relocate their farms.