Malaysia-China Working Team To Set Standard For Nitrate Content In Bird's Nest

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The health ministries of Malaysia and China are working together to resolve the issue of export ban on Malaysian swiftlet bird's nest as soon as possible. Malaysia's Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said a joint working team comprising officials and experts from both sides was formed to set the standard for nitrate content in bird's nest. "We hope the standard can be finalised by December," Liow told a press conference regarding a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Dr Chen Zhu on the bird's nest issue, held here, earlier Tuesday. Liow said the two health ministries agreed on the fact that raw swiftlet bird's nest naturally contained nitrates. "Both sides also agreed that no nitrate additive is allowed in the bird's nest," he added. The minister said the mission of the joint working team was to set the standard for nitrate level in raw bird's nest that would not affect human health. Liow has ordered the director of the ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division Noraini Othman to work together with the Chinese authority to complete the standard as soon as possible. President of the Federation of Malaysia Bird's Nest Associations, Beh Heng Song, welcomed the decision to form the working team. He said leaders of both countries attached great importance to the Malaysian bird's nest export and it brought hope to 600,000 Malaysian bird's nest industry players affected by the temporary export ban. He said the industry players would follow the standard set by the authorities and work hard to enhance the quality of products. Prime Minister Najib Razak had discussed with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the temporary ban on Malaysian swiflet bird's nest export due to China's zero tolerance for high nitrate content in birds' nests during his working visit to Nanning, China on Oct 21. Both countries agreed to resolve the issue as soon as possible, and Liow was asked to work together with the Chinese authority. -- BERNAMA Malaysia