January 7, 2004

 

 

Singapore To Consider Malaysian Frozen Pork Imports

 

Singapore is considering importing frozen pork from Malaysia's Johor state. However the island state is still not prepared to import fresh pork from across the causeway. Singapore has not imported any fresh pork from Malaysia since the 1999 outbreak of the Nipah virus.

 

International health authorities said Malaysia still had a problem with foot-and-mouth disease in animals.

 

Dr Vivian said: "Once a country is labelled as having been infected with foot-and-mouth disease, it affects your ability to import, export or to trans-ship meat products, and from that perspective Singapore cannot afford to go on the red list of countries.

 

"When the international organisation is prepared to certify Johor as foot-and-mouth-free and we are confident there is no public health risk of Nipah, then we can start importing from Johor."

 

Instead each day, nearly 1,000 pigs are shipped over to Singapore from a nearby Indonesian island for slaughter.

 

And this arrangement is not going to change anytime soon.

 

Dr Vivian said: "When dealing with fresh pork, there is a significant safety issue, not just for consumers but for everyone involved in the import, slaughter and the preparation of the meat.

 

"For any of you who have gone to an abbatoir, you will see our AVA officers at very odd times of the day, very early parts of the morning, actually checking carcasses.....this is something we should not take for granted."

 

Mr Teo Ho Pin, Chairman of Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development, asked: "Does it mean that it is not safe to consume pork in Malaysia? What is your advice to Singaporeans who travel to Malaysia?"

 

Dr Vivian said: "All of us are travellers and all of us need to take our appropriate precautions and ultimately take your own risks. The AVA cannot and should not be in a position to certify the safety of all food all over the world. But any country that you go, be aware of what you are eating and make your own informed choices."

 

There are 19 countries approved by the Agri-Veterinary Authority (AVA) to export pork to Singapore.

 

But Singapore is exploring the possibility of importing frozen pork from Johor.

 

As frozen pork has a longer shelf life, every consignment can be rigorously tested to ensure it is safe.