ID :
42114
Thu, 01/22/2009 - 12:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/42114
The shortlink copeid
HALT IMPORT OF CHINESE CHICKEN PRODUCE - VET DEPT
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The Veterinary Services Department has advised the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry (MOA) to temporarily halt import of raw chicken products from China immediately after the Lunar New Year due to the Avian Flu outbreak in some provinces in December 2008.
"As a pre-emptive measure, the department has advised the MOA to temporarily
suspend import of raw chicken products from China until the Avian Flu situation
is eased.
"Todate, there is no report of any Avian Flu outbreak in the Shandong
province, as reported by the Malaysian Agriculture Councilor in Beijing who
closely monitors the situation with the help of MOA, the Health Ministry and the
Chinese government," Veterinary Services Director-General Dr Abd Aziz Jamluddin
said in a statement Wednesday.
However, he said, to ensure enough supply of chicken meat and products for
the coming Chinese New Year, the department had recommended that the temporary
suspension took effect immediately after the Chinese New Year.
China's Ministry of Agriculture has reported the outbreak of the deadly
Avian Flu in the Jiangsu and Hubei provinces in December 2008 and following the
outbreaks, China reported four clinical cases resulting in two deaths.
"The human infection was associated with exposure to infected ducks from the
market place. Despite vigilant effort by both the medical and agriculture
authorities the likelihood of more outbreak, especially in the cooler winter
months, should not be underestimated," said Aziz.
In 2006, the MOA approved two chicken processing plants in Shandong province
to export frozen, deboned chicken cuts strictly for processing.
Aziz said that last year, the department approved approved importation of
16,112 metric tonnes of cooked and frozen, deboned chicken meat from Shandong
province for use by 19 poultry product processors.
"These two plants are regularly inspected by the department and JAKIM
(Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) to ensure compliance with the
Malaysian ISO 1500:2004 specifications.
"The Department will be organising inspection visit of the two plants after
getting approval from the relevant regulatory authorities of the Chinese
government," he added.
"As a pre-emptive measure, the department has advised the MOA to temporarily
suspend import of raw chicken products from China until the Avian Flu situation
is eased.
"Todate, there is no report of any Avian Flu outbreak in the Shandong
province, as reported by the Malaysian Agriculture Councilor in Beijing who
closely monitors the situation with the help of MOA, the Health Ministry and the
Chinese government," Veterinary Services Director-General Dr Abd Aziz Jamluddin
said in a statement Wednesday.
However, he said, to ensure enough supply of chicken meat and products for
the coming Chinese New Year, the department had recommended that the temporary
suspension took effect immediately after the Chinese New Year.
China's Ministry of Agriculture has reported the outbreak of the deadly
Avian Flu in the Jiangsu and Hubei provinces in December 2008 and following the
outbreaks, China reported four clinical cases resulting in two deaths.
"The human infection was associated with exposure to infected ducks from the
market place. Despite vigilant effort by both the medical and agriculture
authorities the likelihood of more outbreak, especially in the cooler winter
months, should not be underestimated," said Aziz.
In 2006, the MOA approved two chicken processing plants in Shandong province
to export frozen, deboned chicken cuts strictly for processing.
Aziz said that last year, the department approved approved importation of
16,112 metric tonnes of cooked and frozen, deboned chicken meat from Shandong
province for use by 19 poultry product processors.
"These two plants are regularly inspected by the department and JAKIM
(Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) to ensure compliance with the
Malaysian ISO 1500:2004 specifications.
"The Department will be organising inspection visit of the two plants after
getting approval from the relevant regulatory authorities of the Chinese
government," he added.
