( United States Department of Agriculture ), JAS ( Japanese Agricultural Standards ) and IFOAM Standards ( International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements ).
6 . Fair Trade Standards Developed by Fairtrade International ( FLO ), these focus on fair wages , good working conditions , and sustainable practices . The key standards are Fairtrade Standard for Small-scale Producer Organisations , Fairtrade Standard for Hired Labour and Fairtrade Standard for Climate Projects .
7 . Global Food Safety Initiative ( Gfsi ) Developed by Consumer Goods Forum , it focuses on Benchmarks for food safety standards . The key standards are on BRC Global Standard for Food Safety , FSSC 22000 ( Food Safety System Certification ), IFS ( International Featured Standards ) and SQF ( Safe Quality Food ).
8 . Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform ( SAI Platform ) Developed by Industry-led initiative , it focuses on sustainable agricultural practices . The key standard is Farm Sustainability Assessment ( FSA ).
MALAYSIA ’ S BIRD ’ S NEST
Malaysia is one of the leading producers and exporters of edible bird ' s nests , particularly those harvested from swiftlet farms . The country has established specific standards and export requirements to ensure the safety , quality , and traceability of bird ' s nests . Here ’ s an overview of Malaysia ' s bird ’ s nest standards and export requirements :
MALAYSIAN BIRD ’ S NEST STANDARDS
1 . Good Animal Husbandry Practice ( GAHP ) Guidelines for Swiftlet Farming / Birdhouse : These guidelines issued by the Department of Veterinary Services ( DVS ), Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry serves to ensure that swiftlet farms adhere to practices that promote the health and welfare of the birds while ensuring the safety and quality of the nests .
2 . Malaysian Standard MS 2334:2011 ( Edible Bird ’ s Nest Specification ): This standard specifies the quality requirements for raw , cleaned , and processed edible bird ' s nests as follow : Quality Criteria : Includes parameters such as moisture content , cleanliness , microbial limits , and chemical residues . Labelling Requirements : Proper labelling for traceability and authenticity , including information on the origin and processing methods .
3 . Good Manufacturing Practices ( GMP ): Swiftlet house operators and processors must comply with GMP to ensure hygiene and quality during the processing of bird ’ s nests . It is regulated by the Ministry of Health ( MOH ), Malaysia .
4 . Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ( HACCP ): HACCP principles must be applied in the processing of bird ' s nests to control potential hazards and ensure food safety .
EXPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR MALAYSIAN BIRD ’ S NESTS 1 . Registration and Licensing :
● Swiftlet Farms : Must be registered with the DVS .
● Processing Facilities : Must be licensed and comply with the regulations set by the MOH and the DVS .
2 . Traceability System :
● Record Keeping : Detailed records of production , processing , and distribution must be maintained to ensure traceability .
● Batch Identification : Each batch of bird ’ s nests must be identifiable through a traceability system .
3 . Health and Safety Certification :
● Health Certificate : Issued by the DVS certifying that the bird ’ s nests meet the health and safety standards required by the importing country .
● Free from Contaminants : The nests must be tested and certified free from harmful contaminants , including heavy metals and nitrites .
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