October 10, 2022

 

Malaysia to permit live broiler chicken exports from October 11

 

 

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said they have received an official notification from Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) that Malaysia will lift its ban on live broiler chicken exports from October 11, The Straits Times reported.

 

The SFA that it is pleased to see live broiler chicken imports resume. The agency said Singapore will continue to experience intermittent interruptions in its food supply due to external factors, so the SFA will keep accrediting more sources of chicken and working with the industry to diversify.

 

To lower their risks of supply disruptions, the agency urged businesses to review their business continuity plans and diversify more.

 

Chicken importers in this country claim that Malaysia's DVS notified them in writing of the ban's lifting.

 

James Sim, the head of business development at importer Kee Song Food, said that although the company imported frozen goods to be traded during this time, it had been four agonising months, with sales falling by 50% to 70% from before the ban.

 

Ma Chin Chew, secretary of the Poultry Merchants' Association said it is unquestionably good news for Singaporeans as fresh chicken from Malaysia is available.

 

He also said that because Monday is a Malaysian public holiday, the ability of exporters to obtain health certificates from DVS in time will determine whether live broiler chickens arrive in Singapore on October 11 or not.

 

Malaysia banned exports of chickens due to a supply shortage.

 

Malaysia exported 3.6 million chickens each month prior to the ban. It provided close to 73,000 tonnes of chicken annually, or about a third of Singapore's needs.

 

Following a Malaysian Cabinet decision on June 8 to permit the export of live kampung and black chickens to Singapore, the export ban was partially lifted.

 

Malaysia announced in August that it would further lift its October export restrictions on chicken, subject to a number of conditions, including allowing exports from only a small number of farms.

 

The head of Malaysia's anti-inflation task force, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, had previously emphasised that the Malaysian Cabinet had stated that domestic consumption should always come first, even when there is a slight surplus.

 

-      The Straits Times