PADANG BESAR: Poultry products are still being brought into the country without permits despite the dangers of avian flu.

Among the items seized at the border checkpoint here yesterday were 12kg of chicken meat and 20 eggs, said Perlis Veterinary Services Department deputy director Dr Tariq Jaafar.

Import of chicken meat, chicken eggs, live birds and bird organs without permits are banned due to the bird flu.

Apart from the poultry products, the authorities also seized 13kg of beef and 5kg of pork. These items had been banned from being imported without a permit since 2003 due to the hand, foot and mouth disease.

Dr Tariq said the confiscated meats and eggs would be buried to prevent the possibility of any spread of disease, adding that the items were meant for personal consumption.

About 40 officers from the Customs, Health, Immigration, Police and Veterinary departments took part in yesterday, three-hour operation, which started at 9am. Eight people, six locals and two Thai nationals, were questioned and had their illegal items confiscated.

"We are also conducting checks on animal and poultry farms in the state,"said Dr Tariq, who led the operation.

He said stringent checks had reduced the number of people bringing in foodstuff without a permit through the border checkpoint.

In Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Kerk Choo Ting said the country was free from bird flu, adding that Malaysians need not panic.

We are monitoring and keeping an eye on all entry points, especially in the northern territories as, sometimes, cockerels from Kelantan are taken into southern Thailand for cock fights.

Kerk was speaking at a press conference after the opening of the FiA (Food Ingredients Asia) Exhibition and Conference yesterday at the Putra World Trade Centre.