PUTRAJAYA – Malaysian authorities are in talks with the United States Agriculture Department to set up a zone free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the US to overcome the problem of import restrictions on poultry products, in the event of future avian flu outbreaks.
The move by the Veterinary Services Department and Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis) is being initiated following the ban on poultry imports from the US since July 20 due to concerns over the avian flu this year.
The department stated that the ban was necessary to assure the sustainability of the industry by halting the potential outbreaks of the avian influenza and ensuring that imported food products are safe for consumption.
“Malaysians should be aware that most countries in the world are facing the HPAI epidemic,” the department said in a statement to The Vibes.
“Any outbreak of HPAI in Malaysia will not only affect chicken production, but also the export potential of local chicken products that have been generating the country's income.”
When asked about future alternative sources of turkeys for Malaysia to address the current supply shortage ahead of Christmas, the department said that it is considering allowing the import of turkey products from Türkiye until the end of the year, and is also looking to increase supply from a number of countries.
The department has also confirmed that no local importers have made declarations to bring in turkeys from the US for this festive season.
“This is due to the fact that when certain restrictions are imposed on a country, import permit applications in the e-Permit System for that particular country are also barred,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Maqis said that it has been working closely with the department to scrutinise the biosecurity, food safety, and food security of all poultry imports, including turkey carcasses from foreign countries.
“This is because our country is also a poultry producer for broilers and egg-laying chickens and we do not want any risk of disease spreading, especially bird flu or HPAI, which is zoonotic and can affect the health of domestic poultry and humans,” Maqis explained.
The Vibes has sighted a memo from an importer that turkey shipments from the US have been stuck in Port Klang since the middle of September.
The importer stated that it has sought assistance from the US embassy and government agencies but efforts have been “futile”.
It also said that customers should expect a supply shortage and should consider cancelling their bookings due to the situation. – The Vibes, December 10, 2022
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