BANGKOK, 5 March 2013 Science and Technology Minister Worawat Ua-apinyakul has vowed to resume Thai bird’s nest exports to China after the lucrative industry was hit by Beijing’s tougher regulations on imports.
Mr Worawat said Thailand is looking to return to a leading position in the regional bird’s nest market by committing to meeting China’s health standards.
After China’s product safety watchdog detected harmful substances, including nitrite and heavy metals, in bird’s nest products imported from Malaysia and Hong Kong in 2011, companies exporting nest products to China are required to obtain a series of quality certifications prior to their arrival in the republic.
Currently, only bird’s nest products containing permissible nitrite levels of 30 parts per million (ppm) or below could be exported to China.
The science minister cited scientific findings on the quality of locally-sourced bird’s nest, saying that uncleaned bird’s nests in the South contain nitrite level of less than 30 ppm.
The ministry will be holding talks with Thai exporters from the South during March 18-19 to report on the findings and to instill confidence in bird’s nest concession holders.
Thailand produces 18 tons of bird’s nests every year, worth more than 14 billion baht in trade value. Most of the products were previously exported to China.
