Malaysia and China have signed the protocol on entry of bird’s nests into China which entails examination, quarantine and hygiene.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar signed the protocol on behalf of Malaysia while China was represented by its Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Minister, Zhi Shuping, at the signing ceremony in Nanning yesterday.

Present were Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry secretary-general Mohd Hashim Abdullah, Veterinary Services Department director-general Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin, and 63 members of 45 swiftlet farming associations.

Following an outcry from Malaysian swiftlet farmers, the Chinese government decided to set aside the mandatory use of radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags on bird’s nests exported by Malaysia from the protocol on Sept 14.

This paved the way for the signing ceremony.

- Bernama