Chi's appetite for bird's nests boosts smuggling

Beijing, Dec 18: As the cold, dry winter rip through Chi, consumption of edible bird nests has increased and this has boosted the smuggling of the lavish delicacy, a media report said on Friday. At a stall in Shanghai’s Kaixuanmen market, one shop owner proudly boasts about his supply of edible bird nests. “Our nests are imported from Malaysia and only cost 10 yuan per gram,” he said. But when asked to show certificates of origin or quarantine, the shopkeeper came up empty handed. Repeating the question at dozens of other shops selling the nests, only one was able to show proper health certification, the Chi Daily reported. Others lack even basic details such as the date of manufacture or where it was produced. “The legal imports cost at least five times of the current price. It is hard for you to find them in this market,” the shopkeeper said, not offering his me. . (IANS)