August 14, 2023

 

Thailand seeks to get pork into Singapore

 

 

Thailand's Department of Livestock Development is working with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to promote the export of safe pork.

 

Efforts will be focused on ensuring quality through quality assurance systems and certified disease-free pig farms. These efforts aim to build confidence in Thai pork imports, while also addressing the price challenges in the market.

 

Dr. Sorawit Thaneto, Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development, and his team met with the management team of SFA, the main food safety and security agency of Singapore, as well as the management team of Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS). The meeting focused on exchanging ideas to promote animal product exports and fostering good relations between the two countries' agencies.

 

Dr. Thaneto stated that the progress in overseeing the animal health control system and the pig production industry, from farms to consumers. This progess includes:

 

    – Disease control and surveillance operations in pigs;

 

    – Certification of disease-free pig farms in Thailand for three diseases: foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine ever (ASF);

 

    – Implementation of good practices in Thai animal product slaughterhouses and processing plants, following the standards of the Department of Livestock Development and international standards.

 

"The proposed standards will generate confidence and trust in the quality control and standards of the Department of Livestock Development, ensuring the entire production chain of Thai animal products," Dr. Thaneto said. "The department, along with the association of pig producers and processors, is working to open the market for exporting chilled pork to Singapore."

 

Officials from SFA had visited Thailand to observe the process of pork production, from farms to slaughterhouses and processing plants. This visit aimed to establish confidence in Thai animal products for export to Singapore, ensuring safety and high quality, and contributing to the city state's food security.

 

According to Dr. Thaneto, the exchange of knowledge and opinions regarding animal health supervision between both sides will play a significant role in promoting negotiations for exporting pork to Singapore in the future.

 

Currently (January-July 2023), Thailand has been able to export approximately 54,000 tonnes of animal products to Singapore.

- InfoQuest