Malaysia ask for earlier EU inspection

The government of Malaysia is pushing for an earlier inspection date by European Union (EU) representatives on the seafood industry.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai informed that the officials from the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) are expected to inspect five farms and six processing factories early March. He told that they are trying to push for an earlier date, probably in February. After the inspection, it will take another six weeks before they can start to export to the EU again,” opined Liow.

Liow was briefing the media after meeting various stakeholders and Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed. He hope that the seafood entreprenuers would also do their part by ensuring they meet the international requirements. Malaysia stopped exporting seafood products to the EU from June after it threatened a total ban following random checks on nine

According to Liow the occupancy rate of beds at the hospital for mothers had increased by some 160 percent, leading to overcrowding. He was inaugurating and gave speech during Visiting Board of Directors Convention yesterday. Liow said the ministry would not hesitate to remove any member of the visiting board of directors if they neglected their duties.

He added there were some committees that failed to hold a single meeting the entire year because they were too busy. He told that there are some 1,908 people appointed to sit on the 24-member board for a two-year term. Liow said a RM10,000 annual allocation would be provided to the committees beginning next year to enable them to carry out community-based activities.

Source: The Star"

WorldFishingToday d. 17-12-2008