Guidelines On Swiftlet Farming To Go To Cabinet Early Next Year

lDecember 22, 2009 21:57 PM
Bernama



SERDANG, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The uniform guidelines on swiftlet farming is expected to be tabled to the Cabinet early next year.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the guidelines, prepared by the Veterinary Services Department, had been completed and just waiting for the right time to be tabled to the Cabinet.

"We are also waiting for feedback from the relevant ministries," he told reporters after opening the "Usahawan Tani Muda Jaya" programme at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park here today.

Noh was commenting on the progress of the guidelines, dubbed "1GP" to tackle the problems concerning the licencing of swiftlet farms in urban areas.

It is learnt that only the Health Ministry had yet to give feedback on the guidelines.

Other ministries involved in the issue were Housing and Local Government Ministry and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

The problem concerning the licencing of swiftlet farms was reported to have hampered the edible swiftlet nest industry which had an annual turnover of RM1 billion, with China as its main market.

The licencing problem was more obvious in Sarawak as its Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1988 prohibits the species from being bred in other than its natural habitat like the caves.

-- BERNAMA