Updated: 26 Jan 2011
As Chinese New Year draws near, bird's nest products, especially Indonesian bird's nest, are gaining popularity in Xiamen. However, over half of Indonesian bird's nest products sold in the city are inexpensive fakes, according to a reporter's recent investigation.
Currently, there are more than 200 bird's nest shops in Xiamen. Statistics from the Xiamen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau show that a total of 790kg and 417kg of bird's nest were imported into the city in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Yet, the number of bird's nest products being sold in Xiamen has far exceed the amount imported in the past two years.
"Over half of the bird's nest products in Xiamen's market are fakes, especially swiftlet nest products. The costs of those fake nest bird's products which are sold at a high price may only stand at several hundred yuan", according to Ms Chen, the manager of Xiamen Yanyu Bird's Nest Specialty Shop. Most sellers in Xiamen claim that their products were imported from Southeast Asian coutries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. However, many bird's nest products are without manufacturing codes and certificates of origin.
An industry insider said that while customers are purchasing bird's nest products, it is important to ask for relevant certificates. If sellers fail to provide related certificates to customers, these products are likely to be smuggled goods or fakes.
