Malaysia to stop exporting millions of chickens amid shortages
- From June, 3.6 million birds a month will not be exported; government will also recognise more slaughterhouses abroad to try to boost supplies
- Move comes days after import rules abolished for food items including coconuts and evaporated milk, as prices rise
Malaysia will halt exports of 3.6 million chickens a month from June 1 and scrap the approved permit requirement for importing wheat until production and prices stabilise, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
The government set a ceiling price of 8.9 ringgit (US$2) per chicken and said it would recognise more slaughterhouses abroad in a bid to boost local supplies and curtail rising prices, according to a statement on Monday.
The measures come days after Ismail abolished the approved permit rules for imports of food items including chicken, coconuts and evaporated milk to secure adequate food supplies in the country.
There was a shortage of poultry locally as cartels had planned to stop farm operations over the weekend, state news agency Bernama reported.
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