Borneo permits frozen chicken imports amid shortages
Companies in Borneo are now permitted to import frozen whole chicken until February 2022, announced the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries.
The Ministry said that this decision was made to cover shortages in chicken supply involving import consideration of up to 10,000 mt or 5.5 million chickens per month, according to Borneo Post. To import frozen chicken, companies would need to be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and have cold storage facilities.
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“The import permission will only be allowed from countries and slaughterhouses that have been approved by the government,” MAFI said, adding that this was a temporary measure until supplies could be stabilised by the local chicken industry.
Malaysian prime minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, had previously stated that the government would import frozen chicken to “enable the people to obtain chicken at a lower price”, Borneo Post continues.
Persisting shortage
Based on observations by the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia, the country faced an average of 18% shortage in October and November and anticipated this would persist.
“This could be attributed to the sudden increase in demand following the reopening of economic sectors especially hotels, restaurants and catering services from October,” it said, adding that it has led to rising prices of up to RM10 (US$ 2.37, or € 2.19) per kg of chicken in wet markets and supermarkets.
Under the Malaysian Family Maximum Price Scheme, the maximum price of standard chicken is set at RM9.30 (US$ 2.20, or € 1.95) per kg for retail sales and RM8 (US$ 1.89, or € 1.68) per kg for wholesalers.
