Upgrading the quality of bird's nest for official export to China

Tien Giang is a province where the practice of attracting and farming swiftlets has flourished in the Mekong Delta region. Currently, there are 1.720 swiftlet farms across the province, with the majority concentrated in the eastern districts, which account for more than 61% of the total farms. Recently, however, the industry has begun to expand into the western districts as well. As it stands, the number of farms that are actively harvesting new nests has surpassed 50%.

Beginning in 2023, the Tien Giang Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sub-Department has implemented a comprehensive plan to assist swiftlet farms, as well as processing and production facilities. This plan focuses on establishing a strong link between production and consumption, aiming to export bird's nest products while ensuring traceability and maintaining high standards of disease safety.

Accordingly, to proactively monitor the pathogens of Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease in poultry and swiftlets, the department is collaborating with the Regional Veterinary Sub-Department VI (Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) to conduct sampling for surveillance and disease safety at 30 swiftlet farms.

At present, Tien Giang has two companies registered to engage in the official export of bird's nests to the Chinese market in accordance with the established protocol. As a promising initial outcome, Tan Dong Agricultural Products Co., Ltd., located in Go Cong City, has successfully obtained an export code from the General Administration of Customs of China. Meanwhile, Tri Son Trading and Service Co., Ltd., based in My Tho City, has finalized its documentation and is currently awaiting a physical inspection by the General Administration of Customs of China.

To enhance the quality and add value to bird's nest products, several enterprises have boldly invested in processing lines and technology. In addition, they are focusing on building their brands and promoting their products in the market.

Tri Son Trading and Service Co., Ltd. is one of the most active enterprises in this sector at the local level. Currently, the company operates 30 swiftlet houses and has established partnerships with over 200 swiftlet houses across the provinces of Tien Giang, Long An, Ben Tre and Dong Thap, enabling it to harvest several tons of bird's nests each month.

Mr. Bui Bang Son, the Director of Tri Son Trading and Service Co., Ltd., highlighted that the company has made significant investments in a facility dedicated to the production of refined bird's nests. This facility employs traditional manual methods for feather cleaning, while strictly adhering to ISO 22000:2018 food safety management standards. Furthermore, the production line is equipped with modern technology that is rigorously controlled according to HACCP standards. This meticulous approach enables the company to produce a wide range of safe and high-quality products, currently boasting over 100 different product lines to cater to various consumer preferences.

Mr. Bui Dang Son shared that, due to the overall market situation, the price of bird's nests has decreased by about 5-7%. However, the volume of consumption has not declined.

Notably, Tri Son Company currently has 28 products certified as 4-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) and 4 products rated as 3-star. The primary offerings include refined bird's nests, steamed bird's nests, freeze-dried bird's nests, bird's nest wine and bird's nest essence.

In addition, the company has made significant investments in building a dedicated display area to showcase and promote its products, which plays a crucial role in enhancing brand recognition among customers. This space also serves as one of the official sales points for OCOP products in Tien Giang province.

"The Mekong Delta is known for its abundant food sources for swiftlets and boasts a climate that is highly favorable for attracting and farming these birds. In my estimation, the bird's nest production from the Mekong Delta represents about 70% of the total output in the country. Furthermore, I believe that the quality of our bird's nests is comparable to those found in other regions", Mr. Son shared.

According to Dr. Thai Quoc Hieu, Deputy Head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sub-Department of Tien Giang Province, to harness the potential of swiftlet farming and attracting these birds, the People's Committee of Tien Giang Province has approved a provincial-level scientific and technological research project for 2024-2025 titled: "Solutions to Promote Official Export of Bird's Nest Products from Tien Giang Province to the Chinese Market".

In this context, the project will focus on developing technical solutions aimed at enhancing both the quality and the added value of various bird's nest products. Additionally, it will seek to propose comprehensive strategies to actively promote the official export of bird's nest products from Tien Giang Province to the Chinese market.