July 12, 2004

 

 

Malaysia Aims To Increase Poultry Exports

 

Malaysian chicken producers are upbeat that their export market can be expanded, as the country's poultry products are free of bird flu, a virus which has plagued farms in several countries in the region.

 

Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia (FLFAM) adviser Datuk Francis Lau said farmers now aimed not only to supply disease-free chicken to domestic consumers but also to new markets such as Japan and European Union countries.

 

"There is no fear in eating chicken from Malaysia, they are free of bird flu.

 

"Our farmers are hygiene conscious in the breeding process and consult with the Veterinary Department frequently," he said, adding that FLFAM members also met regularly.

 

Lau stressed that the time was right now for local farmers to further tap the foreign markets.

 

"Many countries have banned poultry products from affected nations.

 

"We can fill the vacuum by promoting our highly professional and hygienic standards in farm management," he said, adding that the traditional export markets for Malaysian farmers are Singapore, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

 

Another wave of bird flu was reported recently with confirmed cases in Vietnam, Thailand and China.

 

Earlier this year, the three countries were also hit by the disease and some 100 million chickens across the region were slaughtered to halt its spread.

 

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had on Thursday said that preventive measures-such as monitoring at chicken farms, wet markets, pet shops and the country's immigration entry points-had been taken to keep bird flu at bay.