Guidelines to regulate the country’s swiftlet farming industry will soon be tabled for approval at Cabinet.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said that the Swiftlet Industry Guidelines would cover all aspects of the sector, from licensing to exporting.
Kong, who is also Lumut MP, said that the guidelines would also cover downstream industries, restrictions against swiftlet farming in heritage buildings, hygiene and its impact on the public.
“We are finalising the details and they will be tabled soon,” Kong told reporters after handing out aid to his constituents here yesterday.
He said that the guidelines would be drawn up jointly by his ministry and the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry and Natural Resources and Environment ministries, with input from both the Health and Information, Communication and Culture ministries.
Kong also said that all state authorities had been given the regulations to control local swiftlet farming while the guidelines were being drawn up.
“The local authorities have been given instructions on issuing licences to ‘swiftlet hotel’ operators.
“We have also given clear directives on how operators can install speakers to attract the birds and the volume of the sound permitted,” he said.
Kong added that operators should comply with the regulations.
Various groups had called for tighter controls of or even a ban on swiftlet farming in urban areas, citing health and environmental concerns.
Source: TheStar – Swiftlet issue to Cabinet – Sunday 23 May 2010.
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