12Spring

PUTRAJAYA June 10 - The Science, Technology and Environment Ministry Tuesday issued a set of guidelines for a more systematic management of the local swiftlet's nest industry.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding said the guidelines were applicable in the peninsula for the white-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and black-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maxima).

"These guidelines are also needed to ensure that the local swiftlet's nest industry does not create any health problem to the population," he told reporters here Tuesday.

Law said the guidelines were drawn out based on feedback from various agencies and bodies associated with the bird's nest industry.
Among them are the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department, local authorities, Veterinary Services Department, Health Department, Department of Environment and Malaysia Bird's Nest Merchants Association.

He said the guidelines were proposed at the National Workshop on Commercialisation of Aerodramus Fuciphagus Bird House in Penang last April 18.
The local bird's nest industry has rapidly expanded and reached some 300 kg output a month. The price ranges from RM4,000 to RM5,000 a kg depending on its quality.

He said the bird's nest merchants must adhere to the guidelines before they were issued the licence required to operate the industry.
"To obtain the (premise-operating) licence from the local authorities, the bird house operators must ensure that the structures are not built in housing, public and recreational areas except on agriculture or light industry land," he said.

"Use of loud speakers to lure the birds is prohibited and gazetted heritage buildings cannot be turned into bird houses," said Law.
Law said harvesting of the bird's nest would be allowed only after the young swiftlets were able to fly.

A permit from the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department (Perhilitan) was required for the transfer of the swiftlet's eggs from a building to another for breeding purposes.

Law said the industry operators were required to submit their risk management plan while applying for the swiftlet's nest trading licence apart from keeping a record on their bird's nest harvest, import and export in a logbook issued by Perhilitan.

They were also required to obtain a Perhilitan licence before being allowed to either import or export raw and processed bird's nest, he said.
Law also said the Cabinet had approved a launching grant of RM1 million for the setting up of a fund to assist victims of attacks by wild animals.
"The fund is to assist victims of attacks by wild animals as there is no provision for this in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972," he said.

Law said the fund would be managed by the Social Welfare Department while Perhilitan would prepare the reports which would be used to apply for assistance from the fund.

He said RM5,000 would be given as financial aid to victims who were injured or crippled by the attacks and RM10,000 to the next-of-kin who those died as the result of such incidents. - Bernama