April 25, 2007

New Zealand asks Malaysia to lift ban on its beef imports

New Zealand has asked Malaysia to lift the two-year import ban on its beef imports after its meat found not to be of halal quality.

Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that his counterpart in New Zealand had expressed the country's hope to resume exportation of beef to Malaysia.

A team comprising officers from the Malaysian Veterinary Services Department are now in New Zealand to inspect nine abattoirs to determine that the country adheres to Malaysia's halal regulations.