Immediate Adoption Of Compartmentalisation Critical To Protect Poultry Exports - DVS

By K. Naveen Prabu

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has urged poultry producers to immediately adopt compartmentalisation measures to safeguard Malaysia’s poultry exports amid rising global disease risks and tightening international trade requirements.

The concept of compartmentalisation, introduced by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), aims to ease international trade restrictions imposed when an exotic disease is confirmed in an exporting country.

The Deputy Director-General of Veterinary Services (Veterinary Health), Dr Aida Muhid, said global developments, including the shift towards zoning-based trade during disease outbreaks, now require stronger biosecurity and compartmentalisation practices to ensure export continuity.

“The DVS remains committed to assisting more industry players in adopting these high-level biosecurity standards. By obtaining this recognition, we not only safeguard the country’s trade reputation but also ensure that Malaysian poultry products remain competitive and resilient at the global level,” she told a seminar on the transformation of the poultry industry here today.

Dr Aida said that the industry is facing a new disease landscape, with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) no longer occurring seasonally but now considered a year-round global threat. “In addition, diseases that challenge the sustainability of the poultry industry, including viral mutations such as Marek’s Disease and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), which are increasingly able to circumvent existing vaccine protection, require us to remain one step ahead through innovation in veterinary science,” she added. 

She noted that Malaysia’s poultry industry remains a key pillar of national food security, with the poultry meat self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) rising to 93.8 per cent in 2024 from 91.4 per cent in 2023, while egg SSR increased to 107 per cent from 106.5 per cent over the same period. “However, under the National Agro-Food Policy 2.0 (DAN 2.0), Malaysia has set aggressive timelines to ensure food sovereignty, targeting a poultry meat SSR of 120 per cent by 2026 and 140 per cent by 2030, while egg SSR is projected to reach 108 per cent by 2026 and 123 per cent by 2030,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the president of the Federation of Livestock Farmers' Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM), Sim Zhi Zhan, said expanding poultry farms is important for improving Malaysia’s self-sufficiency in chicken production and requested that government agencies expedite the approval process for new farms.

“Sometimes delays make it difficult for the industry to respond quickly to supply needs, even as it works to balance food production with environmental considerations. We want to supply high-quality protein to the nation, but we also need to juggle environmental concerns. This is the challenge the industry is dealing with now,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the seminar. 

He said improved communication between authorities and industry players could help address challenges faced by poultry farmers.

The seminar also featured the introduction of the “Guidebook on the Malaysian Poultry Industry – The Way Forward,” published by Agro-food Productivity Nexus (AFPN) of Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) and the Federation of Livestock Farmers' Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM).

First published in November 2023 and reprinted in 2026, the guidebook outlines the development of Malaysia’s poultry industry and highlights key challenges, including regulatory requirements, sustainability, and industry practices, while serving as a reference for farmers and stakeholders.

-- BERNAMA