11/17/08 The Star--The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry has frozen the issuance of permits for the import of whole chicken and chicken parts from Thailand with immediate effect.
Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said this was a precautionary measure following the spread of bird flu or the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the South-East Asia region.
"Malaysia imported 769 tonnes of chicken from the country (Thailand) between September and November this year," he told reporters after closing the Third Country Training Programme on HPAI here yesterday.
Mustapa said the situation in Malaysia was under control, with no report on HPAI received by the Veterinary Service Department so far, and advised the public not to worry.
With the freezing of the permits, he said checks at entry points along the border would be stepped up to prevent smuggling of the birds into the country.
He said the move would however not affect the supply of chicken in the country.
On Monday, the World Organisation for Animal Health reported a bird flu outbreak in Sokhotai, Thailand. — Bernama
