July 2, 2014             
 

OIE recognises Singapore's veterinary and food safety standards

The OIE has endorsed the country's and Southeast Asia's first OIE Collaborating Centre for Food Safety, and has certified the country free of two additional animal diseases.

The Veterinary Public Health Centre (VPHC) of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore will serve the Asia and Oceania region.

The VPHC started off as a basic meat testing laboratory in the 1970s, growing over the years to become a state-of-the-art facility, according to a blog post by Singapore's Minister for National Development, Khaw Boon Wan.

Stringent food safety tests are carried out on food products at the VPHC laboratories, which comprise a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and scientists.

"With the support of VPHC as an OIE Collaborating Centre, AVA will be in a better position to keep abreast of emerging challenges in food safety, and new developments in international standards and regulations. AVA will also have the opportunity to extend its technical expertise, comprehensive laboratory testing services and training programmes to the region. This will enhance the overall food safety in the region, a source of many of our food imports," Khaw said.

Last month, the OIE had certified Singapore free of two animal diseases – Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia and Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), which are highly contagious diseases that can affect livestock.

"Although Singapore does not have a large livestock industry, we have a significant transhipment and re-export market and being free from such animal diseases is a big plus," Khaw explained in his blog.

The OIE already recognises Singapore as being free from other animal diseases such as Rabies, Foot and Mouth Disease and African Horse Sickness.