1-1-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian authorities have moved to reassure stakeholders after China suspended bird’s nest imports following concerns over the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), with officials confirming no traces of the pathogen in monitored premises and products.
The suspension, enacted on 20 December 2024, has created significant market disruption for Malaysian exporters, with approximately 1.8 tonnes of product valued at RM7.23 million currently facing clearance difficulties at Chinese ports.
According to Malaysia’s Veterinary Services Department (DVS), the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) implemented the ban following reports of NDV detection in Malaysian poultry between March and June 2024. The virus, whilst generally mild in humans, can prove devastating for bird populations, particularly domestic poultry.
“We have initiated comprehensive monitoring protocols and can confirm that no NDV contamination has been detected in any bird’s nest facilities or products,” a DVS spokesperson stated. The department has submitted detailed documentation to Chinese authorities outlining Malaysia’s disease management strategies and safety protocols.
The suspension has dealt a significant blow to the industry, with reports indicating that approximately 15 tonnes of bird’s nest products, valued at RM50 million, have become unmarketable. Malaysia, as one of only four nations authorised to export bird’s nests to China, alongside Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, had exported 102 tonnes to the Chinese market by September 2024.
Industry experts note China’s dominant position in the global bird’s nest market, consuming over 96 per cent of worldwide production. The delicacy, produced from swiftlet saliva, commands premium prices in Chinese markets, making the current export suspension particularly challenging for Malaysian producers.
The DVS has engaged with local producers and exporters to develop strategies for lifting the suspension and is working to enhance the Protocol on Bird’s Nest Products Exported from Malaysia to China (PBNPEMC) to prevent similar disruptions in future.
