STRICT STANDARDS ONE REASON M'SIA RANKED 4TH IN ORNAMENTAL FISH EXPORTERS LIST

PORT DICKSON (Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia), May 4 (Bernama) -- The strict global
market standards, especially in the European Union (EU) member countries, has
caused Malaysia to fall from the second to fourth place in Asia's largest
ornamental fish exporters list.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar said most
of the ornamental fish breeders in the country could not meet the standards
set by the EU, hence affecting the country's export.

"Malaysia used to be Asia's top exporter of ornamental fish, but the global
market standards, especially in the EU member countries, require biosafety
elements on imported fish.

"Now, Malaysia is ranked fourth in the largest ornamental fish exporters'
list," he told reporters after opening the Ornamental Fish Centre at Batu 7,
Jalan Pantai, Telok Kemang, herem, Tuesday.

Noh said Singapore took over the second place in the list when the island
state started purchasing ornamental fish from Malaysia and re-exporting it to EU
member countries.


On the failure of the local industry to meet the global standards, Noh said
it was mainly due to the lack of funds and technology.

The minister, however, was confident that the industry would bounce back
to claim the top spot on the list after the industry was listed as one of the
National Key Result Areas to be assessed in 2020.

On the production of ornamental fish in the country, Noh said the sector had
recorded a revenue of RM783 million (US$1=RM2.96) in 2009, while under the Tenth
Malaysia Plan, the government had set a production target of 1.5 billion
ornamental fish with a value of RM1.7 billion.

He also called on more Bumiputera entrepreneurs to venture into this sector
as it could offer handsome returns.

"For example, a fighting fish can now be sold at RM45 each, while the price
of an Arowana fish can reach thousands of ringgit," he said.

For that, the minister also advised Bumiputera fish breeders to work closely
with Integrated Bumi Aquarium Express Sdn Bhd, which managed to penetrate the EU
market.

The Ornamental Fish Centre launched today was the result of collaboration
between the company and the government to ensure that Malaysia's ornamental fish
would meet EU standards, he said.