Malaysia has not had any bird flu cases for three months, the time considered by the World Organisation for Animal Health to demonstrate that the disease is not spreading.

The country is Singapore's biggest supplier of poultry and eggs. Before the ban on imports earlier this year, Selangor supplied 3 per cent of the eggs consumed by Singaporeans, while 80 per cent of the ducks consumed in Singapore were from Perak.

However both Selangor and Perak were affected by the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu earlier this year, and the country has slaughtered tens of thousands of poultry since February.

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said it had sent officials to Malaysia to inspect the surveillance systems that were set up to prevent the disease from spreading.

It said that it was "satisfied that bird flu has been effectively eliminated from poultry in Malaysia and the disease prevention and control measures implemented by DVS [Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services] are adequate and in line with international standards."

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, Malaysia's neighbour, international experts warned this week that the country had failed to deal adequately with recent outbreaks of bird flu. More people have died from the disease in Indonesia than any other country this year.