Talks on safe nitrate level in bird's nest underway

A GROUP of Chinese health officials arrived in Malaysia on Monday for talks with their Malaysian counterparts to determine the permissible level of nitrite in bird's nest, China Press reported today.

It is understood that the Health Ministry wants to keep a low profile on the talks and has not sought media coverage.

During his visit to China early last month, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had invited Chinese health officials for talks in order to reach an agreement on the level of nitrite allowed for Malaysian bird's nest bound for the Chinese market.

This followed the Chinese authorities' imposition of the zero ppm (part per million) nitrite in bird's nest products, which practically barred all bird's nest products from Malaysia.

Following his Chinese trip, Liow had said the Chinese authorities would allow the presence of natural nitrite in bird's nest products but will not permit nitrite additives in these products.

He also said both sides had set up a working committee comprising food specialists and experts to determine the permissible level of nitrite in bird's nest products.

It is understood that the working committee has completed its task early this month.

Malaysia can resume bird's nest export to China as soon as both sides reach an agreement on the nitrite standard.

The Health Ministry is expected to push for an early agreement, in time for bird's nest to be exported to China before the Chinese New Year which falls on Jan 21.

2.
EDUCATION Director-General Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mahmud says no school can force its students to buy socks embroidered with school name as it is not part of the school uniform guidelines.

According to a report in China Press today, he said students are not committing any offence as long as they wear white socks that conform with the ministry's guidelines on school uniform.

Abdul Ghafar told the daily this when asked to comment on its report that a national secondary school in Negri Sembilan has irked parents by making it compulsory for students to buy socks with school name embroidered on them.

Last Saturday, a group of irate parents brought up the matter with Senawang assemblyman P. Gunasekaren.

They complained that the school's socks were four time more expensive than ordinary socks sold in the market.

Abdul Ghafar said schools can only make it compulsory for students to buy neckties, school uniforms and attires for uniformed bodies which bear the school name or logo, but not socks.

"Students or their parents have the right not to buy socks that bear school name. I will arrange for ministry officials to advise the school concerned not to force students to buy these socks," he said.

Nevertheless, he said he believed the school may be running low on funds and resorted to selling the socks to fill its coffers.