Malaysia allows kampung, black chicken to be exported to Singapore: report
SINGAPORE — Malaysia has reportedly given some allowance on chicken exports, with at least one major poultry producer in Singapore being able to start getting live kampung chickens from across the Causeway.
The Straits Times reported on Tuesday (14 June) that importer Kee Song Food received a letter from Department of Veterinary Services of Malaysia which stated that the Malaysian government has agreed to allow exports of live kampung and black chicken. This is following a Cabinet decision made on 8 June.
According to Kee Song Food's head of business development James Sim, it plans to resume importing live kampung chickens on Tuesday, and start bringing in black chicken from Saturday.
The brand's Facebook and TikTok accounts had also mentioned that the chickens were back in stock.
The Straits Times said that a top Malaysian government official, who declined to be name, confirmed the move to allow exports of kampung and black chicken.
However, the letter from the Department of Veterinary Services of Malaysia also said that the export ban on commercial broiler chicken would remain.
Malaysia had banned chicken exports on 1 June in a move to stabilise production and prices within the country after a shortage of chickens in the country.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) had said that the ban would have an “adverse impact” on the prices of chicken and related products in Singapore.
Most of the chicken Singapore gets from Malaysia is imported live and slaughtered in locally.
The republic also imports chicken from countries such as Brazil and the United States, but a majority of this is usually frozen, which most Singaporean consumers accept.
However, chicken rice hawkers and wet market poultry sellers in Singapore mainly sell broiler chickens, which are larger and traditionally make up the bulk of the country's chicken imports from Malaysia.
Kampung chicken and black chicken are smaller varieties of chicken which are considered premium and more expensive varieties, as netizens recently found out when NTUC Fairprice listed two organic kampung chickens for S$72.27.
The Straits Times reported Sim saying that Kee Song has started taking orders for fresh kampung and black chicken from clients such as wet market poultry sellers, chicken rice hawkers and restaurants.
According to the report, kampung chicken makes up about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the overall chicken supply at Kee Song Food, while black chicken makes up about 3 per cent to 5 per cent.
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