I won't be going but from the description of the conference is sounds like an educational conf, probably gonna discuss long term prospects and things like that than ACTUAL swftlet farming itself.

Yet they are still charging $800 per person?

I was there and left after  20 minutes  not because I didn't pay for the fee which I didn't and smuggle myself in but left because it's boring....... I have 2 from our Association attending and maybe tomorrow session will be exciting I hope.

There was one booth selling a book on how to process birdnest nest for Rm120 and for those newbiz and those who want to know about processing EBN, it's a nice book with pictures clearly explaining how to do it. Another interesting tool for measuring standard of EBN like C,B,A or AA similar to my three fingers A, 2 fingers C and in between B id you don't understand. Unless you have small fingers, fingers size should be similar.

Others, nothings really worth looking into like ECO Parks investment. fire extinguisher, Aroma and Perfume, etc and etc same same. Hope my 2 friends will have a good outing tomorrow as their today's report wasn't interesting like I predicted  after 20 minutes there.

I doubt anything has been changed in the GAHP for swiftlets.
There are other GAHPs for various other animals under their jurisdiction...
If you read them all, one would realise the similarity and why the GAHP for swiftlets appear to be meant for aliens.
They're mere duplicates with the appropriate parts amended.

The bulk of the material for 1GP concerns PBTs.
Maybe the PBTs will run courses too.
And each dept concerned print their own little booklets and make it compulsory to own one as a condition for the license.
I already think that they are infringing on our constitutional right by stipulating the need to be an assoc member.

Have you guys have a look at the DVS registration form for your BH?
One would think that one is applying to be member of a political party or religious school or govt aid or all 3.

1)Kawasan Parlimen
2)Kawasan Undangan Negeri
Why is this their business? Incase the birds crosses constitution?

3)Agama     
Must dead birds be accorded the appropriate rituals?
          
4)Marital status - Belum, Sudah, IBU TUNGGAL?????

None of the above has anything to do with their core competencies nor their job towards the public nor swiftlet santuaries.

This one beats them all....
They ask for birthdate and yet still ask for your age!!!!
Champions!!!!!

Reminds me of something I last read on their site

Vision
A competent veterinary authority serving the animal industry for the sake of human welfare

The above 'vision' has been online for I dont know how long.
They are telling the world they are now incompetent and their vision is to be merely competent.

I share all these without malice just my way of keeping them on their toes and an opportunity to improve over time if they so choose.
I gain nothing by making them look bad...they are already doing a good job of it without my help.

If I have read the translation correctly....it's all about processed EBN, not raw ones.
There's also mention of 'tracking' ..if required it should be from the processing plants, not from farms.
Unless of course if the BH owners are also processing them.
Else there will be tons of unnecessary bureaucracy to deal with.

My apologies, I am not a fan of compulsory this or that...which the govt is very fond of...blanket rulings when further effort is required to resolve anything at the root.

Hi S4ever

Are you guys worried about the guangming article will have a big impact to Malaysia as majority Msia
EBN relied on China market?

So price coming down again?  That will be bad after the not so long nitrite in blood EBN.  Looking at the
so-called blood nest color is frightening.  Honestly, are they such blood nest in reality?  I mean those
with dark dracula color blood nest.  My apology to those who are in blood EBN. 

Enzyme and filter water really can reduce the nitrate content    Then maybe by soaking the birdnest in
EM water can help to reduce the nitrite level???  But then EM is good in neutralizing odour, will it remove the
birdnest's natural aroma???

I used to use EM to make organic fertiliser.  It is good.  BTW, what enzyme we are talking about in bird's nest
please???  Is it just fermented EM? 

Where can I check on the latest status on our government negotiation with the China government please?

Thank you all for your advice.

Cheers

Why should sodium Nitrate and sodium Nitrite be an issue ?

These are known to form carcinogenic compounds when cooked at high heat with meats especially, which does not happen with EBN.

Both these compounds are currently being used as preservatives in a variety of meats and vegetables.

So why does it affect the EBN industry ?  Is it because the processors are adding these to preserve the EBN or because Sodium Nitrate also turns EBN reddish, as in corned beef ?

It is clear that the levels of these 2 chemicals is not natural and has been added by someone along the chain of supply. These are the people sabotaging the business.

Moreover, both, nitrite and nitrate are soluble in water so soaking and washing before cooking will eliminate most of these 2 chemicals.

It is obvious that someone is trying to manipulate the market. 

So, why are the Associations not actively correcting this problem ?

This is where the Malaysian MOA and DVS should take action to educate and negotiate with the buying countries. It will be normal to set acceptable standards for these finished products to be exported.

I think this can be good in a way, most of the processing are done by Indonesians anyways, and they were and still are the ones that come up with all these dirty tricks to maximize their profits.

Most Malaysians cleans bird's nest on a small scale only, in fact if China suppliers import raw BN straight from Malaysia we might even get better prices than what Indonesians pay us.

If it's true, it still has no much effect on our birdnests as

1. Less than 10% of our nests is processed locally
2. Most of our nests are exported to Indo as Indo higher grade nests so it shall be considered as Indo nests as is not include in the Ban anyway.
3. Most of the Indo nests are to HK and then to China which is never affected by any ban.
4. If our processed nests contained unhealthy chemical, it's the processing industry that need to toe the line and someway, somewhat, somebody is playing dirty and cause concerned in China or someone is trying so hard to destroy our export of processed nests or someone having hidden agenda like trying to monopolies the market for themselves.
5. Our Malaysian nests was given the green light and tax free by the chinese govt. then and all other Asian countries are not allowed tax free but what and how come that our nests now have problem with the Chinese authorities.
6. Somewhere, somehow and somewhat, something fishes is giving bad smell to our nests and this Malaysia Govt. must look into.

I just heard of a song with the lyric " God is great, beer is good, men are crazy" and I think it apply here..........

What is worse is that we pay for their salaries and again pay for their services via licenses etc.

Our lady Dr. perhaps thinks is about time she became richer and famous,  for whatever reasons.

For me, it is really quite straightforward. Make all birds' nest processors adhere to certain reasonable standards and SIRIM( or whichever dept.) will audit all standards for export so that any importer will be confident of the Made in Malaysia mark.

Also that way we do not become victims of non Malaysian processors.

As with any food product, irradiation can be used to kill all the bacteria so that preservatives are not needed. Nitrites and nitrates are used as preservatives as well as enhance colour.

Vacuum packaging will ensure products remain viable for a longer period.

No export of raw EBN, and if our processing standards are good, nobody will need to export raw EBN. China will beg for the supply of Made in Malaysia EBN.

Why track and trace when we are capable of processing to an acceptably high standard.

MOA needs their heads checked.