Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2408699/Article/index_html
2008/11/22
Warning over Thai frozen chicken
BERNAMA
TANAH MERAH: The Kelantan Veterinary Services Department has expressed concern that smuggled frozen chicken from Thailand could be infected with the bird flu virus.
Department director Dr Mohd Zairi Serlan said the smuggling of frozen chicken had been rampant lately following an increase in bird flu cases in Thailand.
"We know the traders in the neighbouring country are trying to avoid heavy losses by smuggling the chickens into Malaysia.
"We are concerned that these chickens would be processed into nuggets which would make it difficult to be traced.
"As there is no certainty that the chickens had received clearance from the Thai veterinary authorities before being slaughtered, it is not possible for us to determine whether the frozen chicken is really free from the bird flu disease," he said.
Last Monday, 578 boxes of frozen chicken, worth RM40,228, were seized at the Tanjung illegal jetty, in Pengkalan Kubur.
Meanwhile, Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad had also expressed concern over the halal status of the smuggled frozen chicken.
He called on the authorities to investigate whether the chickens had been slaughtered according to Muslim requirements.
On Nov 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industries banned the import of whole chicken and chicken parts from Thailand with immediate effect following reports that the bird flu disease is making a comeback in Southeast Asia.
Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed had said that the move was a precaution.
Malaysia had imported 769 tonnes of chicken from Thailand since September. -- Bernama
2008/11/22
Warning over Thai frozen chicken
BERNAMA
TANAH MERAH: The Kelantan Veterinary Services Department has expressed concern that smuggled frozen chicken from Thailand could be infected with the bird flu virus.
Department director Dr Mohd Zairi Serlan said the smuggling of frozen chicken had been rampant lately following an increase in bird flu cases in Thailand.
"We know the traders in the neighbouring country are trying to avoid heavy losses by smuggling the chickens into Malaysia.
"We are concerned that these chickens would be processed into nuggets which would make it difficult to be traced.
"As there is no certainty that the chickens had received clearance from the Thai veterinary authorities before being slaughtered, it is not possible for us to determine whether the frozen chicken is really free from the bird flu disease," he said.
Last Monday, 578 boxes of frozen chicken, worth RM40,228, were seized at the Tanjung illegal jetty, in Pengkalan Kubur.
Meanwhile, Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad had also expressed concern over the halal status of the smuggled frozen chicken.
He called on the authorities to investigate whether the chickens had been slaughtered according to Muslim requirements.
On Nov 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industries banned the import of whole chicken and chicken parts from Thailand with immediate effect following reports that the bird flu disease is making a comeback in Southeast Asia.
Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed had said that the move was a precaution.
Malaysia had imported 769 tonnes of chicken from Thailand since September. -- Bernama