March 9, 2005

Singapore ban on Malaysian fresh pork to remain

Singapore's current ban on imported fresh pork from Malaysia would not be lifted any time soon, said Singapore's Second National Development Minister Lim Swee Say.

Fresh pork imports from Malaysia have been banned in Singapore since the Nipah virus was discovered in some pig farms six years ago.

Singapore brings in chilled pork mainly from Australia and Indonesia's Pulau Bulan.

Mr Lim explained that the risk of lifting the ban was not worth taking in view of the high potential threat to the country's public health and economy.

In response to suggestions that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) apply the "zonal approach" to fresh pork imports, Mr Lim revealed that the AVA is prepared to be more flexible in managing food import and is open to the option. This means that imports from isolated disease-free zones in countries where a disease may have been reported could be permitted in time to come.

The AVA had allowed poultry and eggs from Johor and Malacca - zones in Malaysia identified as disease-free ¡¡¨¬C when the bird flu virus struck Kelantan state in 2004.

Chicken is the most consumed meat in Singapore. 159,487 tonnes of the meat were imported in 2003, compared with 83,267 tonnes of pork.

China, USA and Brazil are among the key poultry exporters to Singapore.