Wagyu beef: From Japan to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia started to import the Japanese wagyu beef last year after receiving the approval of two processing plants from Japan by the Malaysian agriculture and health ministries as well as the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM).
Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, said the beef import last year was worth about RM2 million.
"It caters to a targeted group in the super-premium range. We import a lot of beef but among the variety of beef, Wagyu beef is like diamond," he said at the Japanese Wagyu Beef Seminar and Information Exchange, organised by the Japan Livestock Products Export Promotion Council, here today.
He said the air-flown meat cost RM2,000 per kg onwards depending on the grades.
Ahmad said Malaysia hoped the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement could improve trade between Japan and Malaysia, particularly in the expansion of the variety of agriculture products to be exported to Japan.
"Currently, mangosteen, pineapple and duck meat are exported to Japan. We hope to be able to export durian to Japan," he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Japan Wagyu Export Promotion Committee, Tsuyoshi Hishinuma, said there was no difference in terms of quality of halal and non-Halal Wagyu beef.
"Contrary to perception, the Wagyu breed is not fed with beer," Hishinuma said during the briefing. — Bernama