Govt bans chicken exports to address shortage

KUALA LUMPUR: Exports of up to 3.6 million chickens will be stopped from June 1 until chicken prices and production stabilise, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

The Cabinet agreed on this today as a short-term measure for the ongoing chicken shortage issue, he said.

In addition, the government also agreed to create a national chicken buffer stock and to optimise cold room storage facilities currently owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) and its agencies.

It has also abolished Approved Permit (AP) for chicken, including whole chicken and chicken parts, Ismail Sabri said, adding that this was aimed at allowing importers provide more sources of supply and simplify the subsidy claim process by poultry producers.

Also, as a short term measure, the Cabinet meeting today also decided on adding and recognising slaughterhouses abroad to increase production of poultry supply, the prime minister said in a statement today.

More to come..