July 6, 2005

Malaysia critical of lingering curbs for its chicken imports

Malaysia has criticised Japan and other countries for refusing to accept its poultry exports long after it was declared free of bird flu. Similarly, most of the importing countries that used to import poultry and poultry products have also shown hesitance in continuing imports.

Countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines and also the EU have banned Malaysian poultry imports, causing farmers estimated daily losses of RM10 million even though the country has had no new cases of the disease since November 22 last year.

Malaysia also qualified to be declared free of the virus according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, an international guideline for trading animals.

Nonetheless, neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Brunei have reinstated the import of Malaysian poultry products.