Diversifying Singapore's Sources of Fresh Pork
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5 Animal Agenda 8 Food Bites 10 Plant Picks Combating Showcasing fresh home- Growing food in antimicrobial resistance grown produce the city Scan Issue 3-4/2017 to read the issue online DIVERSIFYING SINGAPORE’S SOURCES OF FRESH PORK Fresh pork from Sarawak is now available here AVA inspectors (right) observing the pigs being guided into a pen on-board the vessel. Pork is the red meat of choice for The pigs were ferried to Singapore many Singaporeans. In 2016, we in a specially designed vessel, which imported close to 117,000 tonnes was ventilated and had ample space of pork in total (compared to 29,000 for pigs to move around in their tonnes of beef and 15,000 tonnes of pens. Throughout the journey, the mutton). Our pork supply currently pigs were provided with sufficient comes from more than 20 countries. feed and water on board, with vessel While frozen and chilled pork are crew conducting regular checks on imported from different countries their conditions. Upon arrival, AVA such as Brazil and the Netherlands, inspectors examined the pigs to our supply of fresh pork used to ensure they were well and healthy. come exclusively from the live pigs Before and during the slaughter, brought in from Pulau Bulan, near there were additional checks on the Batam in Indonesia. pigs to ensure they were healthy. The carcasses were also checked to AVA is constantly exploring new make sure that the meat was fit for sources of food, so as to reduce consumption. Singapore’s vulnerability to potential disruptions to supply. On 18 The importer, OJJ Foods Pte Ltd, November 2017, Singapore received is selling the meat at wet markets its first shipment of live pigs from the before retailing at supermarkets. state of Sarawak in East Malaysia. This was also the first import of live pigs from Malaysia in 18 years. Continued on p.2 2 Food Bites Continued from p.1 Scan to watch a video of the live pigs arriving from Sarawak by boat. Live pigs arriving from Sarawak by boat. A brief history as a FMD-free region in Malaysia. Imports of live pigs and raw pork In 2015, AVA assessed Sarawak’s from Malaysia were suspended animal and veterinary public health in 1999 due to an outbreak of the programmes, and approved the Nipah Virus (see box story). Even import of frozen pork from the though there have not been any Malaysian state. In 2017, AVA new outbreaks of the Nipah Virus, approved the import of live pigs from the import of live pigs or raw pork Sarawak as well. The import of fresh from Malaysia remained halted for pork from other regions in Malaysia over a decade due to the presence is currently still not permitted as they of Foot-Mouth Disease (FMD). Only are not free of FMD. processed pork, which had been heat-treated to deactivate the FMD The new supply source of raw virus, was allowed to be brought in pork will better buffer Singapore from Malaysia. against potential food shortages and disruptions, and consumers can also In 2010, the World Organisation for look forward to more choices when it Animal Health recognised Sarawak comes to buying fresh pork. An AVA officer inspecting the pig farm at the source in Sarawak. Issue 3-4/2017 3 WHERE DOES OUR SUPPLY OF PORK COME FROM? Indonesia Other countries 21% 19% 17% 23,800 tonnes 20,400 tonnes 20,300 tonnes 2014 2015 2016 Import total Import total Import total 113,200 tonnes 109,600 tonnes 116,700 tonnes TYPES OF PORK IMPORTED MAJOR SOURCES OF PORK (2016) Frozen Chilled Slaughtered from live pig imports Brazil Netherlands Spain 78,300 82,000 75,200 Australia 11,100 Canada 13,900 14,400 23,800 20,400 20,300 Indonesia 2014 2015 2016 (Tonnes) Continued on p.4 4 Food Bites Continued from p.3 THE NIPAH VIRUS AND FOOT-MOUTH DISEASE The Nipah Virus (NiV) is named after the village Foot-Mouth Disease (FMD) is another severe in Malaysia where the disease claimed its first and highly contagious viral infection affecting human life. NiV causes respiratory and nervous cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep, as well as deer, problems in pigs. It can have devastating effects antelope, elephants, and even giraffes. Although on animal populations, and has since been it is rarely fatal among adult animals, many found in domestic animal species like dogs, infected young ones die of it. cats, goats, and horses. Also, it has affected humans around the world, from Malaysia and FMD presents as blister-like sores on the tongue India to Bangladesh and Singapore. and lips of animals, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. As a consequence, In humans, NiV is marked by fever, headache, infected animals are left weakened and drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, debilitated. Humans are not susceptible to FMD, coma and potentially, death. In the 1999 as it is not readily transmissible to us, but it outbreak in Malaysia, up to half of infected seriously hampers agricultural production while people died. There is no cure. the livestock recover. Importing animals or meat from FMD-affected regions would jeopardise Singapore's FMD-free status and in turn adversely affect our export trade. ENSURING DIVERSIFICATION AND SAFETY Due to food safety and animal health reasons, be individually evaluated to ensure that it meets only countries and establishments that have Singapore's own food safety requirements. An been fully accredited by the AVA will be able to inspection by AVA of that establishment in its export meat and egg products to Singapore. home country may also be conducted. Accreditation is an upstream measure of AVA's In addition, all our imported food is subjected to food safety system, in which we assess the our import requirements, routine surveillance, as robustness of an exporting country's national well as inspection and sampling programmes. animal health and food safety system. We also take into consideration the powers of each To date, our accredited sources of pork include: country's respective authorities to enforce food • Frozen pork: 24 countries safety and animal health requirements. • Chilled pork: 6 countries • Live pigs for slaughter locally and sold as If a country is approved as a source by AVA, the chilled pork: 1 farm in Pulau Bulan, Indonesia; export establishment in that country will then and 1 in Sarawak, Malaysia Issue 3-4/2017 5 COMBATING ANTI- MICROBIAL RESISTANCE AVA’s efforts in addressing the threat of AMR in the food and animal sectors Food samples are regularly tested for a wide range of food hazards such as drug residues including antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is patients and animals (including a serious threat to public health livestock) infected with multi-drug around the world. Microorganisms, resistant pathogens will have fewer such as bacteria and viruses, can and limited treatment options. mutate to become resistant to antimicrobial agents like antibiotics To combat this problem, a National and antivirals to ensure their own Strategic Action Plan on AMR has survival. This makes it harder to been developed by the One Health treat common infections, as well as Antimicrobial Resistance Workgroup, infections arising from complications comprising the Ministry of Health, due to medical procedures such as AVA, National Environment Agency, surgery or chemotherapy. and PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency. The plan is being The emergence of AMR is a natural implemented using a One Health occurrence among microorganisms, approach, recognising that the but the misuse and overuse of AMR issue cuts across sectors, antimicrobials has sped up the and requires a concerted effort by development of resistance among all relevant stakeholders and the disease-causing microorganisms community. (pathogens). Over time, we have seen an increased number of pathogens developing resistance to multiple antimicrobials. As a result, Continued on p.6 6 Animal Agenda As part of our food safety programme, food products are regularly inspected and sampled for compliance with our food safety standards and requirements. Samples are tested for a wide range of food hazards such as chemical contaminants (e.g. pesticide residues, heavy metals, drug residues including antibiotics) and microbial contaminants (e.g. harmful bacteria like E Coli, Salmonella, Listeria). Food that is found to be unsafe will not be allowed for sale. The use of vaccinations, for example, can reduce the need for antibiotics. Here, an On top of our food safety AVA scientist is conducting a safety trial on an autogenous vaccine for fish. surveillance and tests, AVA also takes an active role in regional efforts to combat AMR in the The plan aims to reduce the livestock and aquaculture sectors, Continued from p.5 emergence, and prevent the spread including working with Association of, drug-resistant microorganisms of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through these five core strategies: members to develop regional 1. Education guidelines on antimicrobial use in 2. Surveillance and risk food producing animals. This has assessment produced the ASEAN Guidelines 3. Research on Prudent Use of Antimicrobials 4. Prevention and control of in Livestock as well as the ASEAN infection Cooperation Activities for AMR in the 5. Optimisation of antimicrobial use Aquaculture Sector. AVA also shares technical expertise and experience Ultimately, the global fight against with other countries through AMR aims to preserve the effective- activities such as conducting ness of medicines to treat infectious regional training workshops for diseases for as long as possible. antibiotic residue testing. AVA will also play a role in coordinating the AVA’s role in combating efforts between the ASEAN livestock AMR and aquaculture sectors. AVA has in place an integrated food safety system based on science For local produce, AVA works and risk analysis to safeguard food with local farmers to implement safety.