...so that you can focus on the good things in life

Be it bonding over good food with your loved ones, or basking in Nature’s lush beauty with a furry companion, AVA ensures your peace of mind in enjoying life’s pleasures. We work hard behind the scenes to contribute towards your well-being by sustaining the safety of your food and the health of your pets and plants.

contents:

01 Introduction 02 Chairman’s Statement 06 Board of Directors 09 Senior Management 10 Organisational Chart & Key Roles of Departments 12 Calendar of Events 14 Food Supply Resilience 22 Food Safety 36 Animal Health & Welfare 48 Plant Health acknowlegements 56 Agrotechnology Special thanks to: 68 Agri-trade Coriander Leaf Pte Ltd 76 Organisational Excellence Farm 85 Trading Forest Adventure Pte Ltd 86 Performance Indicators Hawaii Landscape Pte Ltd Rong-Yao Fisheries Pte Ltd 89 Statistics The Tessarina Financial Report Toh Orchids 93 Woon Leng Nursery

for the use of their premises for photography

Photography & Design by Artnexus Design Pte Ltd vision Safe food, healthy animals and plants for Singapore; trusted and respected globally. mission ƒƒ Ensure a resilient supply of safe food; ƒƒ Ensure the health & safeguard the welfare of animals; ƒƒ Safeguard the health of plants; ƒƒ Facilitate agri-trade; and ƒƒ Nurture and inspire staff to be the best we can be! values (ExCITe)

Excellence: Integrity: We strive to be the best in all that we do. We serve with professionalism. We seek lifelong learning and continuous We treat our customers fairly and honestly. innovation. Teamwork: Care: We trust and respect each other. We value and nurture our staff. We work as a team and partner our We care for the community and the stakeholders to achieve our goals. environment. awards & accolades

ISO17025 SAC-SINGLAS ACCREDITATION AWARD Awarded to: Animal Health Laboratory since January 2006, with seven new tests accredited in FY 2011 Plant Health Laboratory since June 2006, with two new tests accredited in FY 2011 Veterinary Public Health Laboratory since 2000, with nine new tests accredited in FY 2011

SINGAPORE QUALITY CLASS STAR

PEOPLE DEVELOPER

INNOVATION CLASS

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER’S R&D AWARD (MERIT) for “Vertical Farming” project

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER’S AWARD (TEAM) for “AVA’s efforts in the face of radiation threats from Japan” project

PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE AWARD

MERITORIOUS DEFENCE PARTNER AWARD

NTUC 50 MODEL PARTNERSHIP AWARDS (INSTITUTIONAL CATEGORY)

DISTINGUISHED HOME TEAM PARTNER AWARD

COMMUNITY CHEST SHARE (SOCIAL HELP AND ASSISTANCE RAISED BY EMPLOYEES) AWARD Gold Award AVA chairman’s statement

he past Financial Year (FY) T of 2011 (ending 31 March 2012) was a fruitful and fulfilling one for AVA. I would like to congratulate AVA on the many awards and accolades received during the FY. The success would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication from all in AVA and I extend my sincere appreciation to all AVA staff for their hard work.

AVA’s robust food safety and biosecurity programmes continue to be endorsed as of a “world-class standard” by the OUR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS International Advisory Committee of Experts (IACE). The IACE conducted its fifth review of AVA in August 2011 and affirmed AVA’s competency as the national authority for food safety and In March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan animal health. Moving forward, AVA will continue to pursue caught the world by surprise. AVA responded swiftly. We excellence in our capabilities, by exploring opportunities for took decisive measures and coordinated with other agencies greater partnership with relevant agencies and the industry. in a Whole-of-Government approach to check and test food from Japan for radioactive contaminants and issue timely In terms of organisational excellence, AVA’s efforts were updates and advisories to the public. AVA’s risk management awarded with the Singapore Quality Class (SQC) Star during approach ensured minimal disruption to the market whilst its Business Excellence (BE) Renewal Exercise. This marks a not compromising on food safety. For the speed and significant progress over its previous SQC rating. In addition, professionalism it showed in handling the crisis, AVA received AVA received renewed certifications for promoting Business the Minister’s Award (Team) from the Ministry of National Excellence, People Development and Innovation. These are Development (MND). This award recognises outstanding praiseworthy accomplishments, and I look forward to seeing MND agencies that have made significant team-based AVA reach even greater heights in its continuous journey contributions to the ministry and nation. towards organisational excellence.

2 looking after you | chairman’s statement chairman’s statement AVA

Growing Emphasis on Organisational and Service Excellence To ensure that the organisation stays nimble in its response to changes and challenges ahead, AVA has embarked on various new initiatives to streamline processes, better manage and coordinate customer responses, as well as promote a collaborative and innovative culture of teamwork and excellence. These will continue to make AVA a dynamic workplace for staff, as well as an efficient and effective agency for our customers and Singapore.

These endeavours have borne fruit. In FY 2011, AVA won the Minister’s R&D Merit Award for the Vertical Farming System, a novel crop-growing technique developed in collaboration with the industry to overcome the limitations of local land scarcity. I am also pleased to note that we are delivering our services more innovatively, such as through electronic platforms that provide greater convenience to customers. For example, the AVA’s interdisciplinary team received the MND Minister’s (Team) Award registration of food storage warehouses can now be completed 2011 for its performance in handling the radiation threat from Japan. online, and the renewal and registration of dog licences can be paid for via self-service AXS stations.

KEEPING UP WITH THE Reviewing Regulations and Improving Policies There is also room for our regulations and policies to be reviewed CHANGING ENVIRONMENT and improved by doing things differently. I am heartened by AVA’s commitment to create pro-business changes.

During this journey, the external environment around us In FY 2011, AVA won four Quarterly Pro-Enterprise Idea constantly changes and many challenges await us. These Awards from the Pro-Enterprise Panel (PEP), which assesses include increasing expectations from our citizens and government agencies’ suggestions to make changes in rules industry to be consulted and engaged when the government and processes that benefit businesses by reducing compliance is formulating, reviewing, and implementing policies and cost. Of these four, one also garnered the overall Annual regulations. As a public agency serving Singapore and its Best Pro-Enterprise Idea Award (Bronze) for the proposed people, AVA is paying close heed to these calls.

(5th from left to right:) Ms Tan Poh Hong, CEO of AVA receives the Minister for National Development’s R&D Award from Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 3 AVA chairman’s statement

system that automatically approves certain meat products To increase public engagement, AVA has also been listening to from selected countries for import into Singapore. This new the diverse views voiced in the social media community. The system benefits more than half of all importers in Singapore, official AVA Facebook page was set up in FY 2011 and is now an who can save a considerable amount of time and money, and active and vibrant forum where AVA connects with the public. also allows AVA to reallocate its resources more effectively to focus on more value-added services.

Beyond this, AVA has recently established a Smart Regulation STRATEGIES TO NAVIGATE framework for the central coordination of the review of rules THE FUTURE and regulations in AVA. The framework is expected to help AVA create a regulatory environment that is customer friendlier, as well as introduce policies that are more transparent and less costly, so as to bring added advantages to our stakeholders. The All the above contribute to AVA’s mission to ensure food result will be lower regulatory overheads, thus allowing AVA to safety, animal health and welfare, as well as plant health for devote more effort on bringing greater value to the public. Singapore. This mission is imperative to the well-being of our nation, not just today, but also in the future. To navigate the future, AVA has formulated policies and undertaken some Listening, Engaging, and Collaborating More with Stakeholders key strategic initiatives that would serve to advance AVA’s AVA will increasingly be more proactive in seeking feedback missions. from stakeholders and in co-creating pro-business solutions with them. Apart from holding regular dialogues with industry partners, AVA also continued to collaborate with them via a Securing a Supply of Safe Food for the Long Term number of AVA-industry joint taskforces and working groups Against a global backdrop of rising food prices and shortages to tackle specific issues. caused by natural disasters, the issue of food security is especially critical to a nation whose food supply is chiefly For example, ongoing efforts – by the taskforces formed sustained by imports. Thus, AVA has formulated a food between AVA and Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association security roadmap for Singapore which took into consideration and Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation – include facilitating consultations with the industry and other government the export of locally manufactured food and educating agencies. In this coming year, AVA will take a whole-of- consumers on food safety. The taskforces also reviewed the government approach to create integrated solutions that fee structure for laboratory testing of fishery products to be address short-term and long-term challenges, as well as exported to the EU, thus trimming costs for businesses. potential risks of disruption to food supply as set out in the food security roadmap.

Many consumers have been introduced to the merits of local produce through AVA’s various outreach events, such as this: A cooking station set up at an NTUC FairPrice outlet to demonstrate ways to prepare locally spawned and harvested pompanos.

4 looking after you | chairman’s statement chairman’s statement AVA

AVA will intensify efforts to diversify Singapore’s food sources. Strengthening Food Safety and Biosecurity Defences With the second tranche of the Food Fund, AVA will co-fund AVA’s response to food safety crises such as the Fukushima feasibility studies on investments in overseas food zones, nuclear accident is a hallmark of AVA’s responsiveness and overseas contract farming, and sourcing from non-traditional competency. In another case of note, AVA conducted a timely or existing sources that are not currently major exporters to recall and suspension of Taiwan-manufactured beverages after Singapore. phthalate plasticisers were tested in the products. AVA took a holistic approach in monitoring and managing the situation, Besides financial support, AVA also played a significant role in extending tests on associated food products, and issuing linking industry partners with overseas suppliers during overseas public advisories to keep consumers updated. In staying trade missions to countries including Brazil in FY 2011. In addition, diligent to ensure the continued safety of our food supply, the development of the Disease-Free Zone in the Jilin city of China, AVA has to seek to further build synergies through increased in collaboration with the Chinese authorities, is progressing well coordination and collaboration, and continue to develop new with the aim to eventually add an alternative source of safe food testing capabilities. for Singapore. AVA also remained vigilant in ensuring Singapore’s freedom While food diversification is important, local production from important animal and plant diseases. Through operation- continues to complement Singapore’s food supply resilience readiness exercises such as Exercise Gallus in March 2012, strategies, as it cushions us against abrupt disruptions. AVA successfully tested our emergency preparedness and Given space constraints, this can only be achieved through responsiveness in the event of an outbreak of bird flu. The test better farmland management; capability and infrastructure showed that our all our contingency processes continue to be upgrading; development of new technologies via R&D; as well effective. as competency training. Therefore, in addition to the Food Fund, AVA works closely with local farms on the research and development of hi-tech farming methods that can help to Becoming the First Responder for Animal Issues increase yield. In FY 2011, AVA was appointed as the first agency to pilot the First Responder Protocol on Animal Related Feedback. For example, AVA’s recent collaboration with local fish farm, Under the new protocol, AVA is tasked to handle all animal- Rong-Yao Fisheries Pte Ltd, saw the successful spawning related feedback, coordinate inter-agency inputs as required, of pompanos (golden promfrets) on a commercial scale in and close the loop with an effective response to members of tropical waters for the first time. With the added local supply, the public. This new role is just one of the several challenges the availability of pompanos would be less restricted by the that AVA is set to overcome. I have full confidence that AVA seasonal harvests from overseas. has positioned itself well to tackle them and work towards its vision of “Safe food, healthy animals and plants for Singapore; To complement the efforts to increase productivity, local farms trusted and respected globally”. also need the support of consumers. I am sure many grocery shoppers have been introduced to the merits of local produce through AVA’s various outreach events. Through collaborations with retailers and chefs, these events have raised consumer IN APPRECIATION awareness on the new source of pompanos from our own farms, as well as on AVA’s Singapore Quality Egg Scheme, a voluntary quality assurance scheme for local egg farms. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to retired AVA Board members – Mr Frankie Chia, Dr Lee Tung Jean, Mr Huang Hong Peng, and Prof K Satkunanantham – for their many significant contributions to AVA during their years of service.

At the same time, I would also like to welcome Mr Tan Kok Yam, Mr Eugene Wong, and Mr Felix Soh, all of whom will become members of the AVA Board starting 1 April 2012.

Finally, my thanks once again to the leadership and staff of AVA, for your dedication and professionalism in serving Singapore. I wish you another successful year ahead.

AVA’s robust food safety and biosecurity programmes continue to be endorsed as of a “world-class standard” by the International Advisory Committee of Experts (IACE). IACE members were impressed with AVA’s laboratory testing and analysis capabilities, after a briefing at AVA’s Veterinary Public Health Laboratories. Koh Soo Keong Chairman

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 5 AVA board of directors

[1] [2] [3]

[4] [5] [6]

[1] CHAIRMAN [4] MR PETER CHIA MR KOH SOO KEONG xx Chief Operating Officer, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory Ltd xx Managing Director, EcoSave Pte Ltd xx Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Life Sciences Ventures Pte Ltd xx Executive Director, KS Energy Ltd xx Director, Bioforest Pte Ltd xx Director, Noel Gifts International Ltd xx Director, EPIC Bio Pte Ltd xx Director, Zerust Singapore Pte Ltd xx Director, JOil (S) Pte Ltd xx Director, ECS Holdings Ltd xx Director, Tridel Biosciences International Pte Ltd xx Director, Northern Technologies International Corporation xx Director, UBC Biologicals Pte Ltd (till Aug 2011) xx Director, ABL Asia Pte Ltd xx Chairman, Ascendas Funds Management (S) Ltd [5] DR AZLINDA ANWAR xx Scientist, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School [2] PROF ZHOU WEIBIAO xx District Councillor, South West CDC 5th Council xx Director, Food Science and Technology Programme, xx Member, Hong Kah North PCF Executive Committee Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore (NUS) xx Council Member, Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology [6] MRS LEE AI MING xx Member, Nominations Advisory Committee, xx Senior Partner, Rodyk & Davidson LLP International Union of Food Science and Technology xx Independent Director, Keppel Land Ltd xx Member, Food Standards Committee, SPRING Singapore xx Independent Director, K-Reit Ltd xx Member-at-large, Executive Committee, International Society of Food Engineering xx Independent Director, HTL Holdings Ltd xx Member, Singapore Copyright Tribunal [3] MS TAN POH HONG xx Member, Steering Committee for IP Competency Framework xx Chief Executive Officer, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority xx Board Member, Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (SCORE) xx Director, AgriFood Technologies Pte Ltd xx Member, Liquors Licensing Board xx Member, National Biosafety Committee

6 looking after you | board of directors board of directors AVA

[7] [8] [9]

[10] [11] [12]

[7] MR YEO GUAT KWANG [10] MR FRANKIE CHIA (till 31 Mar 2012) xx Director, Workplace Safety & Health and All Nationalities, NTUC xx Managing Partner, BDO LLP xx President, Consumers Association of Singapore xx Chairman, Public Accounting Practice Committee of Certified xx Executive Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Statutory Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS) Board Employees xx Council Member, Institute of ICPAS xx Member, Disciplinary Committee of ICPAS [8] COL (DR) KANG WEE LEE xx Member of Education Sub-Comm. of the Financial Reporting xx Chief of Medical Corps, Singapore Armed Forces Committee of ICPAS xx Panel Member, Strata Board Title [9] MR TEO ENG CHEONG xx Chief Executive Officer, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore [11] DR LEE TUNG JEAN (till 31 Mar 2012) xx Chairman, IE Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd xx Director, Energy Division, Ministry of Trade and Industry xx Independent Director, Ascendas Funds Management (S) Ltd [12] MR HUANG HONG PENG (till 31 Mar 2012) xx Board Member, Council for Private Education xx Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Food & Beverage), xx Member, Air Traffic Rights Committee Fraser & Neave Ltd xx Board of Director, ASEAN Infrastructure Fund Ltd xx Director of Fraser & Neave Holdings Berhad Group xx Director of China Dairy Group xx Alternate director of Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd xx Director of South Pacific Brewery Ltd xx Director of Myanmar Brewery Ltd

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 7 AVA board of directors

[13] [14]

[15] [16]

[13] PROF SATKUNANANTHAM S/O KANDIAH (till 31 Mar 2012) [16] MR WONG HIN SUN EUGENE (w.e.f 1 Apr 2012) xx Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health xx Founder and Managing Director, xx Chairman, Specialist Accreditation Board Sirius Venture Capital Pte Ltd xx Registrar, Singapore Medical Council xx Chairman, Singapore Venture Capital Association xx Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NUS xx Chairman, CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd xx Board Member, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School xx Director, Sirius SME Growth Partners I Ltd xx Director, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd xx Director, Sirius Growth Partners I Pte Ltd xx Member, Bioethics Advisory Committee xx Director, Sirius Capital Management Pte Ltd xx Board Member, National Research Foundation (till 30 Jun 2011) xx Independent Director, Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Ltd xx Board Member, National Environment Agency (till 31 Mar 2012) xx Non Executive Director, Ajisen (China) Holdings Ltd xx Non Executive Director, Grand Team Technologies Ltd [14] MR TAN KOK YAM (w.e.f 1 Apr 2012) xx Non Executive Director, Japan Food Holdings Ltd xx Director Manpower, Ministry of Defence xx Non Executive Director, Jason Marine Ltd xx Director, Singapore Technology Engineering-Electronics xx Non Executive Director, IE Singapore Board (e-Services) Pte Ltd xx Non Executive Director, Sirius Angel Fund Pte Ltd xx General Secretary, SAF Reservist Association xx Non Executive Director, Sirius Management Services Pte Ltd xx Vice President, NS Resort & Country Club xx Non Executive Director, Sirius Growth Capital Pte Ltd xx Non Executive Director, Sirius Investment Inc [15] MR FELIX SOH (w.e.f 1 Apr 2012) xx Non Executive Director, Paradise Group Holdings xx Digital Media Editor, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd xx Consulting Editor, My Paper

8 looking after you | board of directors | senior management senior management AVA

MS TAN POH HONG DR CHEW SIANG THAI MR LEE KWONG WENG xx Chief Executive Officer xx Director-General for Agri-Food xx Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Veterinary Services (Corporate & Technology Group) xx Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Regulatory Programmes & Operations Group)

Department Directors

DR PHILIP CHEW HONG DR CHOO LI NAH DR PAUL CHIEW MS JOYCE NG xx Technology & Industry xx Communications & Corporate xx Laboratories xx Corporate Resource Management Development Relations

MS SEAH HUAY LENG DR WONG HON MUN DR TAN LEE KIM, KIM DR YAP HIM HOO xx Food Establishment Regulation xx Agri Establishment Regulation xx Planning & Organisational xx Regulatory Administration Excellence

MRS TAN-LOW LAI KIM DR ASTRID YEO xx Food Supply Resilience xx Quarantine & Inspection

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 9 AVA organisational chart & key roles of departments

Chief Executive Officer

Corporate & Technology Group

Planning & Corporate Communications Technology & Food Supply Organisational Resource & Corporate Industry Resilience Excellence Management Relations Development Department Department Department Department Department

• Horizon scanning • Financial • Media relations • Technology • Food supply management and development and policy and • Strategic procurement • Corporate transfer planning planning and publications policy • Human resource -- Horticulture -- Source management • Community diversification • Emergency outreach -- Aquaculture planning • Information -- Local communication -- Food safety and -- Post harvest production • Corporate technology supply • R&D planning statistics management • Agricultural land -- Responsible pet management • Technical • Organisational • Corporate ownership assistance and Excellence administration • Fishery ports • Customer relations services and facilities management management • International relations • Legal services

10 looking after you | organisational chart & key roles of departments organisational chart & AVA key roles of departments

Chief Executive Officer

Regulatory Programmes & Operations Group

Regulatory Quarantine & Food Agri Laboratories Administration Inspection Establishment Establishment Department Department Department Regulation Regulation Department Department

• Policy, legislation • Import control • Local food • Local farms • Testing and and programme establishments regulation diagnostic review -- Food regulation services • Animal welfare • Risk assessment -- Animals -- Food factories -- Food safety • Animal -- Food safety -- Plants -- Slaughterhouses management -- Animal health

-- Animal health • Quarantine • Food factories -- Plant health services grading -- Plant health • R&D of new test • Export facilitation • Technical assistance methodology • Food source and services accreditation • Export facilitation • Enforcement of legislations

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 11 AVA calendar of events

April 2011 July 2011 The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2011 came into operation On 1 July 2011, AVA began allowing travellers to import on 15 April 2011, with revised and new requirements in areas ornamental fishes for personal use via parcel posts, without relating to food additives, food labelling, import permit subjecting them to requirements imposed for commercial declaration, specific limits for cadmium, as well as standards imports. for food containing certain ingredients, and special purpose foods containing phytosterols, phytostanols, and their esters. AVA visited Brazil from 7 to 15 July 2011 to gain a better understanding of Brazil’s poultry and pork industries, as well as to explore avenues to diversify Singapore’s sources of table eggs. May 2011 On 24-25 May 2011, Singapore attended the 6th Steering The new AVA Quality Assurance Scheme (AQUAS) opened Committee Meeting of the ASEAN-Asian Vegetable Research for application in July 2011, after five rounds of consultative and Development Centre Regional Network on Vegetable sessions with the ornamental fish industry. Research and Development (AARNET) in Brunei Darussalam. AVA’s annual Food Safety Awards Night was held on 22 July AVA, together with Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, 2011. The Guest-of-Honour, Minister of State for Trade and attended the 4th East Asia Plant Variety Protection Forum Industry & National Development, Mr Lee Yi Shyan graced Meeting on 24-26 May 2011, in Makassar, Indonesia. the event, and presented one Gold and 10 Bronze awards to winners. AVA supported the 12th Aquarama, which was opened by Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development & Defence on 26 May 2011. It attracted the participation of more than 120 companies and August 2011 agencies from 23 countries. AVA set up a booth to showcase AVA launched the second tranche of the Food Fund on 1 August our achievements and recent developments. 2011. Another $10 million was committed to the second tranche, with new categories such as R&D Challenge Call and R&D Open Call being introduced.

June 2011 The International Advisory Committee of Experts concluded To increase consumer awareness of the Singapore Quality its review of AVA’s food safety and biosecurity programmes on Egg (SQES) logo, AVA collaborated with local egg farms and 25 August 2011, and found them to be of world class standard. NTUC FairPrice to organise “The Amazing Egg Trace” event on 21 June 2011. Point-of-Sale materials were installed in the supermarkets to provide information on the SQES, and the freshness of local eggs. September 2011 In September 2011, Agrifood Technologies Pte Ltd, a subsidiary AVA’s R&D project on Vegetable Vertical Farming (VF), which of AVA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jilin was a collaboration between AVA and the private sector, won Food Zone Development Co Ltd, to develop a robust food the Merit Award under the Minister for National Development’s safety and regulatory system in the Sino-Singapore Jilin Food R&D Award. The Award was presented by the Minister of State Zone. for National Development and Manpower, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, at the inaugural Urban Sustainability R&D Congress on 27-28 June 2011. AVA put up a booth at the Congress to showcase the award-winning VF project.

12 looking after you | calendar of events calendar of events AVA

October 2011 December 2011 On 6-7 October 2011, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, To promote locally produced pompanos and other fishes Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National to consumers, AVA worked with NTUC FairPrice to set up Development, accompanied by AVA CEO, led a five-member cooking stations in selected supermarkets in December 2011, delegation to attend the 33rd Meeting of the AMAF and where chefs demonstrated ways to cook pompanos. 11th Meeting of the AMAF+3 held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The delegations also attended the 1st ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, which was held on 8 October 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. January 2012 AVA was awarded the Singapore Quality Class (SQC) Star by On 14 October 2011, the revised veterinary conditions for the SPRING Singapore. Our certifications for the People Developer import of sheep and goats to be used for slaughter at premises and the Innovation Class were also successfully renewed in other than a licensed slaughterhouse came into effect. January 2012 with improved scores.

On 29 October 2011, AVA successfully bred pompano on a commercially viable scale at Rong-Yao Fisheries Pte Ltd in Singapore. February 2012 On 27-29 February 2012, AVA hosted a benchmarking study By end-October 2011, payment options for all AVA services were visit for four officers from the Ministry Of Marine Affairs And made available at more than 790 AXS stations island-wide. Fisheries Of Indonesia.

AVA introduced e-GIRO statements in October 2011 to provide our customers with the option of receiving their monthly GIRO statements electronically. March 2012 On 1 March 2012, AVA was appointed as the agency to pilot the First Responder Protocol on Animal Related Feedback. As a first responder, AVA will analyse and coordinate the efforts of November 2011 relevant agencies to address public feedback on animal issues. The registration of food storage warehouses commenced on 1 November 2011. The objective is to help enhance food On 22 March 2012, AVA successfully conducted “Exercise traceability and enable AVA to promptly notify warehouses Gallus VI”, the sixth operational exercise to test our emergency should there be a need for immediate recall of affected preparedness in responding to an outbreak of bird flu. products in the event of a major food crisis. The first AVA Ambassador Day was held on 24 March On 11 November 2011, AVA received the overall Annual Best 2012 to recognise the efforts of AVA’s Food Safety Student Pro-Enterprise Idea Award (Bronze) for introducing automatic Ambassadors and RPO Ambassadors. approval for the import of meat and meat products from selected countries into Singapore. A local egg promotion was held in March 2012 in collaboration with Cold Storage and the three local egg farms. The annual Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) Roadshow was held at the Singapore Expo on 12-13 November 2011, with Mr Tan Chuan Jin, Minister of State for National Development as the Guest-of-Honour. The RPO Roadshow was supported by AVA’s RPO Partners and included activities and seminars that attracted more than 5,000 people.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 13

food supply resilience Enhancing Resilience in Singapore’s Food Supply

o ensure a resilient supply of safe food for Singapore, AVA has in place strategies and programmes to maintain SOURCE DIVERSIFICATION T an adequate and stable supply of food, while mitigating food safety risks. AVA adopts a diversification strategy to facilitate a steady flow of a wide variety of safe food at stable prices into Singapore. While diversifying our overseas food Singapore imports more than 90 percent of her food. To enhance supply, we also seek to enhance the productivity of local farms supply resilience, AVA partners the private sector in food through R&D and capability development. Additionally, AVA sourcing and facilitates the development of potential overseas continues to educate consumers on the use of liquid eggs, egg sources. By buying from many sources, Singapore is better powder, and frozen meat as viable alternatives to shell eggs buffered against potential food shortages and price volatility. and chilled meat. To complement the efforts of local farms in increasing productivity, we also encourage consumers to AVA continued to engage key stakeholders to enhance choose local produce and support our farmers. source diversification. Meeting were held with four major supermarket retailers between November 2011 and March 2012. Issues on food supply challenges, potential new sources, consumer trends, and the plans in place to mitigate any supply disruption were discussed.

Food Sourcing Missions AVA adopts a targeted approach to scout for new sources of safe and quality food for Singapore. As part of Singapore’s food diversification strategy, study visits and mission trips were made to explore new sources and strengthen existing trading ties.

AVA visited Brazil from 7 to 15 July 2011 to gain a better understanding of Brazil’s poultry and pork industries, as well as to explore avenues to diversify Singapore’s sources of table eggs.

Brazil is one of Singapore’s sources for beef, chicken, fruits, pork, and sugar. This sourcing mission underscored Singapore’s continued interest in Brazil as a food supply source, especially for pork and poultry products, in the face of increasing international demand.

Through this study trip, AVA gained good insights into Brazil’s export capabilities for meat and meat products, its slaughterhouses’ ability to maintain high food safety and quality assurance standards, as well as Brazil’s regionalisation plans for freedom of key animal diseases and supporting contingency plans.

Brazil also expressed interest to export Brazil’s table eggs to Singapore, which are currently not available here. AVA has AVA maintains an adequate and stable supply of safe food for Singapore. begun working with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply on the import of Brazilian eggs to Singapore.

16 looking after you | food supply resilience AVA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Tan Poh Hong, and AVA officers visited Brazil from 7 to 15 July 2011 to gain a better understanding of Brazil’s poultry and pork industries, as well as to explore avenues to diversify Singapore’s sources of table eggs.

AVA and a private sector representative attended the “Chinese To facilitate bilateral trade and cooperation, the Singapore- High Quality Fruits Promotion Fair” from 21 to 24 October 2011 Indonesia Agri-business Working Group (AWG), formed in in Nanning, China. The fair aimed to promote the development June 2010, aims to increase the export of Indonesian fruits, of fruit trade between China and ASEAN countries. Four vegetables, and fish to Singapore. regions in China – Guangxi autonomous region, Jiangxi, Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces – were featured in this fair. Useful In FY 2011, two AWG meetings were held to discuss the information obtained during the trip was shared with industry progress made since 2010, as well as future work plans for members upon return. 2012 on information exchange, capacity building, business matching, and food fairs that strengthen bilateral trade and cooperation. Promoting supply from Indonesia AVA continued to work closely with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the supply of vegetables from Indonesia. Efforts were made to explore new sources and strengthen bilateral trade and cooperation.

In FY 2011, two Agri-business Working Group meetings were held with the aim to facilitate the supply of vegetables from Indonesia to Singapore.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 17 AVA FOOD FUND

Besides diversifying our overseas food sources to ensure our food supply resilience, AVA also promotes local food production to minimise the impact of supply disruptions. In December 2009, AVA introduced the Food Fund to support food diversification efforts and local farm capability development to enhance productivity.

A total of $10 million was committed to the first tranche of the Food Fund. Since then, $6 million has been awarded to 15 projects. Of these, two projects on food diversification and one project on farm capability have been completed. The food diversification projects yielded good insights into the potential of Vietnam and Cambodia for contract farming of fish and rice, respectively. A local fish farm made use of the Food Fund to successfully install a water quality monitoring The new Challenge Call category is designed for projects such as achieving system to minimise mortality rate due to poor oxygen levels consistent fish fry production for commonly farmed food-fish species, such in the water. as trevallies, pompanos, tilapias, snappers, and mullets that are affordable by consumers.

To boost local farm capability development, three new sub- categories were created to meet the varying needs of different farms:

1. Basic Farm Capability Purchase of basic equipment (e.g. automatic feeders, generators, workboats). 2. Advance Farm Capability Purchase of advance equipment, machinery and farming systems (e.g. irrigation systems, cold chain facilities). 3. Technical Boosters Trial usage of seeds or fish fry that are from new sources, or of better quality.

To effectively communicate the details to the industry, and help the industry tap on the Food Fund, AVA held two briefing AVA and participants from the industry engage in a lively discussion on the Food Fund during a briefing/consultation session. sessions in August 2011 for interested applicants.

Second Tranche of Food Fund FACILITATING FOOD IMPORTS Another $10 million was committed to the second tranche of the Food Fund on 1 August 2011. The second tranche of the Food Fund was accompanied by several changes. A R&D Challenge Call was introduced to tackle specific challenges AVA adopts a risk-based approach in managing the delicate in poultry waste management and consistent production of balance between ensuring a stable supply of safe food on one quality fry for commonly farmed fish species. Other R&D hand, while mitigating food safety risks on the other. This enables projects involving egg, fish, and vegetable production are us to facilitate food imports without comprising food safety. considered under the Open Call category. Establishment of Disease-Free-Zone On 21 May 2010, AVA signed an agreement with the Jilin government to establish and maintain a Foot and Mouth Disease-Free-Zone (DFZ) in Yongji County within the Jilin Province of China. The establishment of DFZs is part of AVA’s regionalisation approach, to allow imports from DFZs within infected countries, subject to meeting AVA’s conditions for the establishment of stringent control disease and surveillance programmes.

18 looking after you | food supply resilience The establishment of the DFZ and development of the integrated pig farm project are progressing well in collaboration with the Chinese authorities.

With the establishment of this DFZ, Jilin will become a source of pork for Singapore. The DFZ supports Singapore’s commercial STAYING ALERT companies’ joint venture to develop an integrated pig farm to supply pork to Singapore. AVA and Jilin City have formed AGAINST EMERGING a working group to provide technical advice, as well as to THREATS & ISSUES monitor and review the progress of the DFZ development. The establishment of the DFZ and development of the integrated pig farm project are progressing well in collaboration with the Chinese authorities. AVA’s horizon scanning function scans and analyses the global food supply situation on a regular basis to help AVA anticipate threats that could impact our food supply. Import Risk Assessments Emphasis is placed on global food supply and price changes, Through sound risk management, AVA has enabled food to possible production limitations (such as disease, abrupt be brought in from diverse sources. In FY 2011, AVA carried weather events, and depleting resources), and other external out risk assessments on the following in support of AVA’s food developments. Key factors that drive global food supply and supply resilience and diversification efforts: demand are analysed to assess their impact on Singapore’s food supply situation. This process is complemented with • Notifiable Avian Influenza in imported frozen wild game feedback from the industry. meat from the United Kingdom (UK). • Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in imported In addition, we identify and monitor global food supply and farmed and wild deer from the UK. demand trends that would unfold in the longer term. We • BSE in imported bone-in veal from the Netherlands and feed these global perspectives into AVA’s strategic planning, Canada. so as to enhance AVA’s preparedness and awareness of • BSE in imported bone-in beef from the United States (US). potential future challenges as we develop our programmes and policies. As a result, bone-in veal from the Netherlands, Canada, and US were allowed into Singapore in FY 2011, following AVA’s assessment that the risk of BSE in these products are negligible.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 19 At the Singapore Food Expo in May 2011, AVA conducted cooking demonstrations to educate the public on the uses of frozen meat, liquid egg, and egg powder.

session to train culinary trainers from PA on the proper handling methods for frozen meat, liquid egg, and egg powder. RAISING CONSUMER Subsequently from August 2011 to March 2012, these PA AWARENESS OF trainers conducted a total of 47 classes at various community ALTERNATIVE FOOD PRODUCTS centres to approximately 1,000 residents. AND LOCAL PRODUCE In addition, AVA also participated in various events to spread our public education messages on these food alternatives. These include participation in the Singapore Food Expo in May 2011 and Asia Food Expo in November 2011, where 56 Singapore has limited sources for chilled meat and shell eggs. sessions of cooking demonstrations were conducted using To enhance food supply resilience, AVA continued to educate frozen meat, liquid egg, and egg powder, and liquid egg sample consumers on food alternatives. During the FY, efforts were packs were distributed to visitors during the demonstrations. made to raise the awareness on the use of egg powder and The two events reached out to more than 20,000 people. AVA liquid egg as an alternative to shell eggs. AVA also continued also participated in community events, such as the Rivervale our public education programme on frozen meat to encourage Community Centre’s Open House to conduct cooking consumers to take to this value-for-money alternative. In demonstrations for the residents. addition, we intensified our public education on local produce by highlighting these foods’ quality and freshness. Local Produce Besides helping our farms to increase their productivity, our Alternative Food Products support to local farms also includes encouraging consumers to AVA continued to educate the public on the uses of frozen buy local produce by raising public awareness of their quality meat, liquid egg, and egg powder through collaboration with and freshness. the People’s Association (PA). Under PA’s Singapore Culinary Journey Programme, AVA organised a cooking demonstration

20 looking after you | food supply resilience To increase consumer awareness of AVA’s Singapore Quality Egg Scheme (SQES), we worked with NTUC FairPrice to put up Point-of-Sale materials in the supermarkets to provide information on the SQES, and drive home the message that local eggs are the freshest consumers can find in markets here.

Local Eggs and the Singapore Quality Egg Scheme Local Fish The quality of eggs produced by local chicken layer farms is In collaboration with Rong-Yao Fisheries Pte Ltd, AVA has for assured under AVA’s Singapore Quality Egg Scheme (SQES). the first time successfully bred pompano in tropical waters on All three local chicken layer farms are currently registered a commercially viable scale in Singapore. To promote locally under this Scheme, which requires them to ensure that their produced pompanos and other fishes to consumers, the “SG facilities are hygienic and quality control monitoring systems Fish” brand was launched in December 2011. At the same time, are well maintained at all times. The eggs produced undergo AVA worked with NTUC FairPrice to set up cooking stations monthly inspection and freshness tests by AVA to verify in selected supermarkets, where chefs demonstrated ways to their quality. The date of production and farm code are also cook pompanos. stamped on every egg to ensure traceability.

To increase consumer awareness of the SQES logo, AVA collaborated with local egg farms and NTUC FairPrice to organise “The Amazing Egg Trace” event on 21 June 2011. Through it, reporters were given the opportunity to track the time taken for local eggs to reach our retail shelves from the moment they are laid. Point-of-Sale materials were installed in the supermarkets to provide information on the SQES, and drive home the message that local eggs are the freshest consumers can find in markets here.

Another local egg promotion was held in March 2012 in collaboration with Cold Storage and the three local egg farms. Besides putting up Point-of-Sale materials on SQES and local eggs at Cold Storage supermarkets, free egg rings were given to buyers of local eggs, and SQES brochures were distributed to consumers. A cooking demonstration using local eggs also took place at the Cold Storage Guthrie House outlet. Media advertisements educating the public on the SQES and encouraging consumers to choose local eggs complemented the promotional event. To promote locally produced pompanos and other fishes to consumers, the “SG Fish” brand was launched in December 2011.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 21

food safety Keeping Food Safe for Consumption

ingapore imports more than 90 percent of the food it consumes. To ensure all locally produced and imported S food products are safe for consumption, AVA adopts a science-based risk analysis approach that is based on international standards. AVA sets and enforces food safety standards for all food entering the Singapore market, from production to just before retail. As food safety is a shared responsibility, AVA also engages the industry and public to do their part in keeping food safe for consumption.

To safeguard public health, AVA has in place high food safety standards, and robust monitoring and inspection programmes to ensure that these standards are maintained. We closely monitor each stage of the food production chain – from the conditions at farms, slaughterhouses, and food processing establishments (both local and overseas), to testing of food samples at the point of import or at local establishments. Only those that pass our stringent tests and inspections are AVA lifted the suspension on import of deboned beef from Ireland after permitted for sale and consumption. conducting an evaluation and inspection visit.

REGULATING FOOD IMPORTS Poultry and Pig Farms By the end of the FY, AVA accredited 231 overseas poultry and pig farms for the export of live poultry, shell eggs, and pigs to Singapore. The accredited farms comprised 127 chicken Accreditation of Sources broiler farms and 56 duck broiler farms from Malaysia; a pig farm from Indonesia; and 46 layer farms from seven countries. Product and Country Approval Within the FY, AVA approved the import of new products, namely, meat, processed meat, and processed egg products Suspension and Resumption of Supply Sources from four countries to Singapore. The approval process AVA suspends food sources that pose significant hazards, was based on the assessment of the exporting countries’ and reinstates them after they have rectified the hazards. In veterinary services, legislation, animal disease status and FY 2011, a total of 34 overseas poultry farms were suspended control measures, national residue and microbiological for failing to meet our food safety standards. Reasons for monitoring programmes, as well as the regulatory system for suspension included the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis the production of the export products to Singapore. (SE) and drug residues, as well as major non-compliance with export conditions. As at March 2012, 36 countries were approved by AVA to export meat, processed meat, processed egg, canned meat, During the FY, AVA lifted the suspension on imports of chilled/ and table hen eggs to Singapore. frozen beef and processed beef products from Denmark to Singapore following OIE’s official recognition of its “negligible risk” status for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). AVA Meat and Egg Processing Establishments also lifted the suspension on import of deboned beef from In the FY, AVA conducted inspection visits to Malaysia, Ireland, France and Ireland, following an evaluation and inspection France, China, and Thailand to accredit their establishments mission. for the export of meat, processed meat and processed egg products to Singapore. During the FY, AVA accredited 147 new establishments from 14 new and existing AVA approved countries for the export of such products to Singapore. These included frozen pork, chicken, and beef, as well as processed chicken and pork, and liquid and dried egg products.

24 looking after you | food safety Issuance of Licences and Permits We continued to monitor imported fresh seafood at our fishery ports for adulteration with chemical preservatives (i.e. Meat and Seafood formaldehyde and boric acid). A total of 1,008 samples were As at the end of FY 2011, there were a total of 2,774 licensed tested and two samples were found to contain a high level of traders for meat and seafood, to whom 20,816 meat permits formaldehyde. The importers of these consignments were and 187,516 seafood permits were issued. fined for these violations and their subsequent consignments were monitored under hold-and-test inspection. During the FY, AVA reviewed and allowed automatic approval of permits for certain meat and meat products imported from Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. This facilitated cargo Egg Products clearance, as it enabled traders to obtain their cargo clearance A total of 593 consignments of processed egg products, permits almost immediately. comprising of liquid egg, egg powder, as well as preserved and salted duck eggs, were inspected. Ten consignments of salted duck eggs were rejected, mainly for adulteration with Fruits, Vegetables, and Processed Food sudan dye, an industrial colouring prohibited in foodstuffs. There were a total of 1,088 licensed importers for fresh fruits Two consignments of preserved duck eggs were rejected due and vegetables to whom 217,827 permits were issued in to dioxin, an environmental pollutant. FY2011. In addition, there were a total of 10,188 registered importers for processed food to whom 318,080 permits were issued. Fruits and Vegetables AVA continued its inspections of imported fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the FY. In total, 10,048 of consignments Surveillance and Monitoring of fresh fruits and vegetables from 31 countries were inspected AVA has comprehensive surveillance programmes in place to and screened, as part of hold-and-test procedures and routine monitor food safety hazards in primary produce and processed inspections, for pesticide residues, radioactivity, preservatives, food. Import consignments are subjected to systematic toxic chemicals, and microbial contaminations. Of these, 169 inspections and laboratory testing for pathogens, and chemical consignments from the hold-and-test procedure were rejected. contaminants and residues. The overall violation rate from samples of hold-and-test and routine inspections hovered at 5.03 percent. We collaborated with our counterparts in other countries to provide effective Meat and Meat Products remedial actions on pesticide residue violations. AVA inspected 72,958 meat consignments with a total weight of 273,834 metric tonnes valued at $1.17 billion. Imported fresh longans are routinely subjected to stringent hold-and-test inspection for the presence of sulphur dioxide. We continued with the surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes In FY 2011, the inspection procedures for fresh longans in ready-to-eat products, and E. coli O157 in processed beef were reviewed. With effect from 17 October 2011, importers products and manufacturing cuts (such as beef trimmings). A with good track records and high compliance rate could be total of 2,202 samples were tested for Listeria monocytogenes, exempted from the hold-and test procedure. In the FY, a total and 2,444 samples were tested for E. coli O157. Fourteen of 182 longan consignments were inspected and all of them meat consignments were rejected due to contamination with passed the laboratory tests. Listeria monocytogenes. No consignment was found to be contaminated with E. coli O157. A total of 123 consignments In August 2011, as a result of fruitful collaboration in a joint- (0.17 percent) were rejected, mainly for Salmonella. taskforce between AVA and representatives of the fruits and vegetables industry stakeholders, AVA implemented two enhancements to the import inspection procedures. Seafood and Seafood Products AVA inspected 4,253 consignments of seafood with a total Previously, importers with consignments that require weight of 4,219 metric tonnes valued at $51.2 million. A total inspection had to deliver their entire shipments to the Pasir of 21 consignments (0.49 percent) were rejected due to Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC) directly after customs microbial contamination. clearance. The two enhancements allow importers to make alternative arrangements with AVA for post-entry inspections. In the inspection of seafood, the focus was on high-risk Firstly, they can now choose to submit only the targeted fresh products, i.e. cooked and pasteurised crabmeat, cooked fruits and vegetables for inspections at PPWC, and proceed to prawns, oysters, and smoked seafood. These consignments distribute the remaining non-targeted consignments. were detained upon arrival for inspection and laboratory testing. Their respective accompanying health certificates from the countries of origin were also checked.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 25 Secondly, they have the option to arrange for inspection to In addition, all trimmed, shaved, and polished coconuts, which be conducted at their own premises. For importers whose were regulated as fresh fruits in the past, will be regulated as warehouses are located away from PPWC, this option helps to minimally processed coconuts with effect from 1 April 2012. minimise possible interruptions in the logistics management This will align the control of all minimally processed coconuts of their shipments, thereby ensuring the freshness and quality under processed food and facilitate the import declaration of of the imports. As of January 2011, about seven percent of these products. post-entry inspections of imported fresh fruits and vegetables were conducted at importers’ premises.

Following a review, all trimmed, shaved, and polished coconuts, which were regulated as fresh fruits in the past, will be regulated as minimally processed coconuts.

An AVA officer collecting samples from the targeted consignments of vegetables at importers’ premises for inspection. REGULATING LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION

Processed Products In FY 2011, a total of 8,333 consignments of imported Farms processed food were inspected and sampled for laboratory As at end of FY 2011, there were 119 licensed coastal fish analyses. Of these, 144 consignments were rejected due culture farms, three layer farms, 46 vegetable farms, and nine to the presence of non-permitted food additives, excessive land-based food fish farms. additives, and contaminants. In addition, 2,888 inspections were conducted on 51,548 food items from retail outlets, and Local poultry farms continued to be monitored monthly for 6,071 food samples were taken for chemical, microbiological, drug residues and SE in chicken and quail eggs. One local and physical analyses. poultry farm was detected with SE. Eggs from these flocks were sent to an AVA-approved liquid egg processing plant A total of 588 summonses/ compound fines, 464 written before being allowed for human consumption. warnings, and four verbal warnings were issued for non- compliances with Food Regulations during the FY. We Market-sized food fish from local coastal farms were investigated 141 complaints on food importers and took tested regularly for drug residues, heavy metals, chemical appropriate enforcement actions where irregularities were contaminants, and microbiological pathogens. The Vibrio detected. Some of these cases involved labelling infringements species of bacteria was periodically detected in samples and food contamination with foreign matter. collected in FY, which is common as the bacteria are ubiquitous in the marine environment. Farmers were advised to improve In line with our objective of securing food safety at source, AVA harvesting practices on their farms, particularly rapid chilling reviewed its import requirements for fruits and vegetables of fish with sufficient ice during harvest and transport. from Malaysia. From 1 March 2012, ready-to-eat minimally processed fruits and vegetables imported from Malaysian Crystal violet, a triphenylmethane industrial dye known producers must be certified by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health. to be anti-parasitic, was detected in transhipped market- The certification is in accordance with the Food Safety sized sea bass from one of the local coastal food fish farms. Assurance Guidelines for Ready-to-Eat Minimally Processed We immediately issued a suspension order to the farm and Fruits and Vegetables, that was jointly developed by Malaysia lifted it only after two consecutive negative detections of and Singapore. triphenylmethane were achieved in tests.

26 looking after you | food safety Local oyster farms continued to be monitored weekly for As of 31 March 2012, there were 131 local food processing Norovirus, Hepatitis A, as well as monthly for heavy metals, establishments that were awarded with the A grade, 605 with toxins, and microbiological pathogens. Monthly inspections the B grade, 430 with the C grade, and 64 with the D grade, of the farms’ depuration units were also conducted to ensure under AVA’s Food Factory Grading Scheme. The remaining that the units were operational. One local oyster farm was 201 new food establishments were not due for grading. A total suspended from sale of oysters following repeated positive of 460 (32%) of all these establishments obtained HACCP detections of norovirus in the post-depurated oyster samples. certification. Suspension was lifted after the post-depurated samples were tested negative for norovirus. Abattoir and Slaughterhouses Animal feed used by all food-producing farm animals are As of FY 2011, there was one pig abattoir, as well as 10 chicken regularly tested for antibiotic residues, chemical contaminants, and four duck slaughterhouses. A total of 313,112 pigs, 46.5 melamine, and microbiological pathogens. During the FY trace million chickens, and 5.9 million ducks were slaughtered at amounts of antibiotics were detected in feed samples collected these premises. All pigs slaughtered at the abattoir were from goat, fish, and layer poultry farms. Our investigations inspected by AVA, of which 379 pigs (0.12% of total pigs showed that these feed were imported and the manufacturer slaughtered) and 189,078 partial organs (about four percent was the source of the contamination. End-product testing of the estimated total number of organs) were condemned as of milk, fish, and eggs was carried out to ensure that these unfit for human consumption. contaminants were not found in the food produced by the farms before they are sold for public consumption. Enforcement actions were taken against poultry slaughterhouse operators who failed to comply with AVA’s Local vegetable farms are encouraged to adopt the Good licensing conditions. In FY 2011, a total of 30 warning letters Agricultural Practice standard, under the voluntary Good were issued. Composition fines amounting to $3,300 were also Agricultural Practice for Vegetable Farming (GAP-VF) imposed for hygiene infringements and cold chain violations. Certification Scheme. In the FY, AVA audited and approved seven vegetable farms for GAP-VF certification renewal. Special Permits for Religious Institutions In FY 2011, a total of 88 permits were issued to religious bodies and institutions to slaughter 2,389 goats and 3,316 sheep for religious purposes. Inspections were carried out during arrival of the animals, in animal holding pens and skinning/cutting area, as well as during slaughtering, to ensure animal welfare and all sanitary facilities were acceptable.

Food Processing Establishments AVA regularly inspects local food establishments to ensure that proper hygiene practices are observed. In FY 2011, AVA made 6,408 inspection visits to food establishments that were involved in manufacturing meat, fish, egg, and other processed AVA audited and approved seven local vegetable farms under the GAP-VF foods, as well as cold stores. A total of 6,286 processed food Scheme. samples were taken for laboratory analysis. Of these, 160 were found to be unsatisfactory, and 10 were found to be unfit for human consumption. We issued 77 summonses/compound Local Food Establishments fines, 305 written warnings, and 885 verbal warnings for non- At the end of FY 2011, there were 1,431 local food processing compliance with the Sale of Food Act and the Wholesome Meat establishments licensed by AVA. These establishments and Fish Act. A total of 294 complaint cases of unwholesome included slaughterhouses, other food processors, and cold and improperly labelled pre-packed processed food were stores for meat and fish products. investigated, and appropriate enforcement actions were taken for contraventions in hygiene practices and other offences. During FY 2011, AVA received 256 license applications and issued 187 licenses. A total of 1,010 site inspections were For the “Formula One” race in 2011, AVA officers conducted carried out on food processing establishments to evaluate thorough factory inspections at food establishments that the new licence applications; changes in layout for existing were involved in supplying foods prior to and during the premises; and suitability of the location for food usage. event. AVA officers also collected random samples from the food establishments. Laboratory test results of the samples AVA conducts annual on-site audit assessments on licensed collected from these establishments were satisfactory. local food establishments to determine their grading status, and provides on-site advice to help them improve and upgrade their premises. In FY 2011, a total of 1,447 audit inspections were carried out on these local food establishments.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 27 Registration of Food Storage Warehouses AVA commenced the registration of food storage warehouses on 1 November 2011. This move will help enhance food LABORATORY CAPABILITIES traceability and enable AVA to promptly notify warehouses should there be a need for immediate recall of affected products. Laboratory testing is a critical component in AVA’s food safety monitoring and surveillance programmes. AVA’s Veterinary As of 31 March 2012, a total of 204 food storage warehouse Public Health Laboratory (VPHL) plays a key role in enforcing applications were received and registration for 105 our stringent food safety standards. The state-of-the-art warehouses was completed. AVA conducted 41 inspections laboratories at VPHL are capable of detecting a wide range on the warehouses and provided operators with advice on of food-borne hazards, particularly those of current and Good Warehousing Practices (GWP) for the maintenance and emerging importance. improvement of warehouse hygiene and operations. In FY 2011, the VPHL carried out approximately 1.79 million analyses on 59,811 samples of imported and locally-produced food products. The laboratory analyses covered pathogens, antibiotics, growth promotants, hormones, pesticide residues, chemical additives, and contaminants, which are harmful to public health.

The VPHL also provides analytical services to the local food industry, as well as government departments and statutory boards. In addition, VPHL extended its commercial testing services to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia during the FY.

As an import/export testing and certification laboratory, VPHL ensures that its tests are accredited according to international standards. The laboratory continued to be accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council-Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) and is ISO/IEC 17025 certified since year 2000. With nine new methods accredited by SAC-SINGLAS in FY 2011, the total number of accredited methods was raised to 211.

As part of the laboratory quality system, VPHL took part in relevant inter-laboratory Proficiency Testing Schemes organised in various countries, including the UK, EU, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, and continued to excel in these programmes. We also participated in new schemes in the FY, such as those provided by Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and European Commission-ASEAN The registration of warehouses will help enhance food traceability and enable AVA to promptly notify warehouses should there be a need for reference laboratories. immediate recall of affected products in the event of a major food crisis.

Enhancing Testing Capabilities Faced with an ever-increasing list of food contaminants and new emerging food pathogens, VPHL continued to keep abreast of cutting-edge technology and constantly upgrades its existing capability with the acquisition of laboratory equipment and development of new testing method. During the FY, VPHL developed/enhanced 40 methods in the areas of chemical contaminants; drug residues; pesticide residues; food-borne toxins; food and nutrition chemistry; food quality and authentication microbiology; and genetically modified material analyses.

28 looking after you | food safety The PLEX ID system in AVA’s Veterinary Public Health Laboratory is used for non-targeted microbial identification in food products.

Non-Targeted Testing for Early Detection of Food-borne Hazards technology. Preliminary comparative study has demonstrated In FY 2010, we set up facilities for the establishment of non- that food-borne hazards, that otherwise would not be targeted targeted testing capability at VPHL to enhance our strategic under the conventional food safety testing techniques, were preparedness to safeguard food safety and public health. detected and identified using our non-targeted testing These facilities would enable AVA to carry out analytical scans methodologies. on targeted food from high risk sources, so as to detect early signals of the possible presence of uncommon or unanticipated We will continue to further build up and optimise our non- contaminants. targeted analytical workflow in FY 2012 and to enhance the features of these databases, with the aim to eventually In FY 2011, AVA conducted the evaluation of non-targeted incorporate the non-targeted testing capability into AVA’s testing methods for the detection of pesticides, veterinary food safety testing routine. drugs, food additives, food-borne toxins, microbial pathogens and chemical contaminants in unprocessed food products. Databases consisting of the masses and mass spectral properties of about 10,900 compounds were built to aid in the mass screening for a wide range of food-borne hazards. Procedures were also developed to facilitate non- targeted analysis of microbial pathogens using PCR-TOF-MS

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 29 STAYING ALERT AGAINST RISK AND SAFETY ASSESSMENTS EMERGING THREATS & ISSUES

AVA has in place a system to assess the risks posed by AVA keeps a watching brief on the global food safety situation various food items and to manage food safety incidents. by monitoring and identifying potential food and health issues AVA will implement appropriate risk-mitigating measures, in that could threaten our local population. By keeping abreast of accordance to the risk that the food items pose. As part of risk the latest developments in animal and plant health, zoonotic assessment, AVA also conducts surveillance of food products diseases, and the food standards of developed countries, we and food contact materials that are available in Singapore. ensure that our policies and control programmes stay current and relevant. AVA also conducts risk assessments to evaluate food safety risks. Food Chemicals and Food Contact Materials AVA conducted risk assessments on the dietary exposures of food chemicals in our daily food intake. Our assessments of Codex Alimentarius Commission the following chemicals: ethyl carbamate; perfluorooctanoic To stay abreast of food safety developments in the international acid; perfluorooctane sulfonate; and nitrate showed that the arena, AVA participated in Codex Alimentarius Commission current levels of these chemicals in food do not pose a health (Codex) meetings during the FY, where topics such as food risk to the general population in Singapore. additives, food contaminants, pesticide residues, food labelling, nutrition and foods for special dietary uses, animal AVA also conducted safety assessments on food-contact feeding and food, and import and export certification system materials and articles to ensure that they are safe for food- were discussed. contact applications. During the FY, AVA assessed the safety of melamine-type food wares, stainless steel cookware, and At the 34th Codex Alimentarius Commission, 31 new or revised nylon food utensils that are available in Singapore’s market. Codex standards or related texts, as well as many new or Based on the migration levels of chemicals from these food- revised provisions for additives and Maximum Residue Limits contact articles, they were found to be safe for use. (MRL) for pesticides and veterinary drugs, were adopted for country reference. The safety and suitability of 10 new food ingredients and 15 new food additives for use in general and special purpose foods were assessed. The scope of three existing food additives was Horizon Scanning assessed and proposed to be increased, based on available AVA scans open information sources to detect overseas safety information. reports of food safety incidents, food recalls, as well as industry practices or new food technology, which can lead to unsafe food. Food (Amendment) Regulations 2011 The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2011 came into operation Horizon scanning supports AVA’s food safety surveillance on 15 April 2011, and brought into effect the following changes: programmes by providing early alerts on incidents that impact the safety of food in Singapore, so that prompt mitigation • Provision to use new food additives, and to use existing measures can be implemented. During the FY, our scanning food additives in more food categories. efforts alerted us to the plasticiser incident in Taiwan, and • Incorporation of specific limits for cadmium in dried helped us to keep abreast of the developments on radioactive mushroom, as well as cocoa and cocoa products. contamination in food in Japan. • Incorporation of new/revised food standards for foods containing sweetening agents, irradiated foods, wholegrain, frozen meat and fish, fats and oils, fat spread, natural mineral water, infants’ food/infant formula, special purpose foods containing phytosterols, phytostanols and their esters. • New requirements in the area of food labelling: net quantity declaration of pre-packed foods, drained weight declaration of food packed in liquid media, weight declaration of frozen foods, allergen labelling, and date-marking of ready-to-eat minimally processed fruits and vegetables. • Revised requirements for import permit declaration: food products with no brand name at the time of application for import permit will have to be declared using either the name of the overseas manufacturer or the intended brand names.

30 looking after you | food safety From 15 March 2011 to 31 March 2012, AVA tested 7,213 FOOD INCIDENTS MANAGEMENT samples of food products including seafood, vegetables, fruits, meat, and alcohol. AVA also worked with the Japanese authorities to impose the requirement for a certificate of origin (COO) to accompany each shipment of Japanese products In the event of unexpected food safety incidents, AVA has in entering Singapore. With AVA’s continual risk assessment and place a crisis management structure to enable quick response review of our sampling programme, we gradually lifted the to the threats. Through swift response, AVA was able to deal restrictions on food consignments from some regions in Japan with past incidents effectively and assure public confidence in while ensuring they are safe for consumption. In December the food available in Singapore. 2011, AVA scaled down the testing of food products from areas further away from Fukushima, in light of the satisfactory test results obtained for such products. Nuclear Crisis Incident in Japan Following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March 2011 and the resulting radiation leakage from the damaged Phthalates Contamination in Taiwan Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, high levels of Following reports in May 2011 of Taiwanese food manufacturers radioactive contaminants were detected in food from replacing palm oil with chemical plasticisers (DEHP) as a Fukushima and its neighbouring prefectures. cheaper alternative of emulsifier, AVA took the precautionary measure of inspecting and sampling a variety of Taiwan AVA assessed the risk of radioactivity from various types of food manufactured products including fruit juices, energy drinks, to determine where AVA’s sampling and testing efforts should tea beverages, jam and jelly, as well as confectionery products. be focused. Imports of milk and milk products, seafood, meat, More than 2,300 samples were tested, and 18 samples were fruits, and vegetables from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and found to be contaminated with phthalates. Gunma prefectures were subsequently suspended. In addition, imports of fruits and vegetables from Chiba, Kanagawa, Tokyo, As prolonged consumption of such plasticisers would result and Saitama prefectures were also suspended. in detrimental health effects, AVA suspended the import of the contaminated products. In addition, from 1 August 2011 to 29 February 2012, every consignment of affected product imported from Taiwan was required to be accompanied with a certificate of inspection issued by Taiwan’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection. This requirement was lifted on 1 March 2012, when investigation by Taiwan authorities showed that the affected products have been destroyed and manufacturers’ premises have been tested to be free of plasticizer contamination. This was supported by AVA’s surveillance results.

Food-borne Disease Outbreak Caused by E. coli O104 in Germany In May 2011, following reports of a food-borne disease outbreak in Germany linked to shiga toxin, producing E.coli (STEC) O104, AVA implemented hold-and-test inspection on cucumbers, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables (including sprouts) imported from the European Union (EU).

Investigations by German authorities traced the source of the E. coli O104 outbreak to sprouts and lifted the health warning on eating raw lettuces, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This led AVA to lift the hold-and-test inspection procedures on tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy vegetables from the EU on 28 June 2011. Sprouts from the EU continued to be subjected to hold-and- test procedures until 31 August 2011, when it was also lifted AVA assessed the risk of radioactivity from various types of food imported from Japan to determine where AVA’s sampling and testing efforts should in view that there was no reports on new cases of E.coli O104 be focused. in the EU. During the period June to August 2011, all the 158 samples tested negatively for STEC.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 31 Briefings, Workshops, and Training Courses STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AVA conducts regular industry training courses in order to upgrade the industry’s food safety and hygiene procedures. AND COLLABORATION During the FY, AVA conducted training on food safety according to HACCP System, as well as the pre-requisites for GMP and GWP. A total of 340 participants from 160 companies AVA engages the local food industry through regular meetings, attended these sessions. Concurrently, AVA collaborated with workshops, and dialogue sessions to share information, and SPRING Singapore Accreditation Council to conduct briefings foster collaboration and mutual understanding. on HACCP Accreditation and Funding Schemes, as well as with Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore on the Productivity and Innovation Credit scheme. In addition, five on-site industry Dialogue Sessions and Taskforces training sessions were conducted at licensees’ premises to a AVA held annual dialogue sessions with local food total of 39 participants. associations, namely the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA), Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa), Seafood Industries Association Singapore (SIAS), Meat Traders’ Association (MTA), Poultry Merchants’ Association (PMA), and Eggs’ Import/Export Trading Association (EIETA). These dialogue sessions provided an effective platform for both AVA and the industry to discuss matters that are beneficial to trade and the public. Arising from the dialogue sessions, two joint taskforces were formed to look into specific matters.

A joint taskforce for consumer education on food safety was formed to explore how AVA and industry can work together to strengthen public education initiatives on food safety. Ideas and suggestions were generated from the taskforce during the FY, which will be further discussed during planning of consumer education programmes.

Another joint taskforce between AVA, SMa and SFMA was set During the FY AVA officers conducted training sessions on food safety, up to look into facilitating the export of locally produced food. Good Manufacturing Practices, and Good Warehousing Practices. In FY 2011, the taskforce discussed and agreed to rephrase the clause “free for sale in Singapore” in the Free Sale Certificate so as to differentiate products for human consumption from To help local Chinese sausage processors develop and animal feed and pet food. AVA subsequently amended the establish a holistic self-regulatory approach to food safety by clause to read as “…… for sale in Singapore and for export for incorporating HACCP-based quality assurance programme human consumption” with effect from 1 August 2011. and systems, AVA published a guide on GMP for Chinese sausages during the FY. Like the guide on GMP for roasted To help the industry comply with the new requirement for meat published last FY, the one for Chinese sausages also took their warehouses to be registered, AVA developed a set of reference from international standards and local “A” graded guidelines on GWP, after considering feedback received processors where observations and on-line monitoring were through dialogue sessions with SFMA, SMa, Housing and made. Development Board, JTC Corporation, Singapore Logistics Association, and Container Depot Association Singapore. AVA also gave lectures on “International Food Standards – Codex Alimentarius”, “Singapore Food Legislation and In addition, AVA held five focus group discussions with food Role of Government Agencies” and “Food Labelling and associations, major food importers, and existing warehouse Advertisement” to students from the Singapore Polytechnic – operators at the drafting stage of the guidelines. An electronic Massey University Food Technology Degree Programme on 4 consultation exercise, which allowed industry members to April 2011. submit their comments online, was also conducted from 20 June to 15 July 2011. Collaborations with Other Agencies AVA explained the registration requirements to industry The Advisory Committee on the Evaluation of Health Claims, members and provided them with guidance on the comprising reputable experts from government bodies, registration process through two briefing sessions on 7 and tertiary institutions, and the industry, was formed in August 10 October 2011. 2009. In FY 2011, six applications were received and evaluated by the Advisory Committee.

32 looking after you | food safety Chong Food Industries Pte Ltd; Cold Storage Singapore (1983) SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Pte Ltd; KSB Distribution Pte Ltd; NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd; Seo Eng Joo Frozen Food Pte Ltd; Thong Siek Food Industry IN FOOD SAFETY Pte Ltd; and Pfizer Pte Ltd (Nutrition Division).

Food Safety Public Education Through the Food Safety Awards Night and public education To ensure food safety from farm to fork, all parties in the programmes, AVA continues to emphasise the importance of food chain from government to food industries to consumers the industry and consumers’ roles in ensuring food safety. must play a role. While food industries and the government continue to work together to ensure food sold in Singapore is safe for consumption, it is also important to ensure consumers Food Safety Awards Night are equipped with good food safety knowledge so that food is AVA’s annual Food Safety Awards Night was held on 22 July safe at the point of consumption. 2011 to give recognition to companies that have consistently achieved high standards in food hygiene, processing, and In FY 2011, AVA focused its food safety public education sanitation. Guest-of Honour, Minister of State for Trade and activities on programmes in school and at work. Food safety Industry & National Development, Mr Lee Yi Shyan presented talks and learning journeys were conducted to educate one Gold and 10 Bronze Awards to winners of the Food Safety students on the importance of selecting, handling, and Excellence Scheme. storing food safely while consuming food in school. A Food Safety Student Ambassador Programme was launched to Food Safety Partners who have worked hand-in-hand with AVA encourage students to learn and share food safety messages to educate consumers on food safety, and have maintained through projects and events. A total of 25 Food Safety Student good food safety practices in their factory premises, were Ambassadors enrolled in the programme and were recognised also recognised. Acelink Logistics Pte Ltd and Abbott for their efforts on the first AVA Ambassador Day held on 24 Manufacturing Singapore Pte Ltd were welcomed aboard as March 2012. new Food Safety Partners in 2011. AVA also renewed the Food Safety Partner status of seven companies, namely Chop Hup

Mr Koh Soo Keong, AVA Chairman (front row, 4th from left to right); Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State (MOS) for Trade & Industry and National Development; and Ms Tan Poh Hong, AVA CEO, with the award recipients of the Food Safety Excellence Award 2011.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 33 AVA’s food safety public education efforts were extended to the workplace in FY 2011 to reach out to working adults. Talks were conducted to educate them on the proper ways of storing, handling, and selecting food.

A new workplace programme was also created to reach out AVA also reached out to travellers to inform them of the to working adults. Talks were conducted at various companies restrictions on animal, plant and food items that could be to educate working adults on the proper ways of storing and brought into Singapore through a targeted mass media handling food in the pantry and selecting food when eating campaign that included outdoor advertising, such as bus out. In total, 30 learning journeys and 40 school and workplace hangers and lamp post banners at the Tuas and Woodlands talks were conducted, reaching out to a total of 34,603 people. checkpoints during key travel periods. We also launched advertisements on Tiger Airways and Jetstar Airways’ in-flight AVA also continued with efforts to educate consumers on food magazines, as well as on posters at the budget terminal and safety at home and while shopping. Exhibitions and mascot ferry terminals. To complement the mass media campaign, tours were held at public libraries in June and October 2011. AVA also distributed more than 40,000 L-shaped folders with A puppet show was developed in collaboration with Ngee Ann our ‘If in Doubt, Check What’s Allowed’ message at the NATAS Polytechnic to complement the exhibitions and mascot tours Travel Fairs in FY 2011. at the libraries. Mascot tours and games were also conducted at 60 supermarket outlets across all parts of Singapore. In addition, community events were supported by food safety advertisements on newspapers, magazines, and trains from August 2011 to January 2012.

AVA’s food safety mascot, Oscar the otter, toured 60 supermarkets across Singapore in FY 2011 to promote food safety awareness.

34 looking after you | food safety VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY – PERFORMANCE OUTPUT FY 2011

Functions Performance Veterinary R&D and Quality Import Service & Indicators Health Quality Total Tests Control Surveillance Certificates Assurance No. of samples 3,317 3,748 31,685 12,220 8,841 59,811 tested No. of laboratory 14,254 124,519 1,322,483 317,670 9,663 1,788,589 tests performed

ONGOING SURVEILLANCE OF FOOD PRODUCTS FY 2011

Meat/ Heavy metals, preservatives & additives (sulphur dioxide, boric acid, sorbic acid, colouring matter), poly- Meat chlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, radioactivity, betaagonist, nitrofuran, chloramphenicol, other antibiotics, Products hormones and growth promotants, staphylococcal enterotoxins, E.coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci, Campylobacter, parasites, anthrax contamination

Seafood/ Heavy metals, preservatives & additives (sulphur dioxide, boric acid, sorbic acid, colouring matter), Seafood formaldehyde, radioactivity, nitrofuran, chloramphenicol, malachite green and its metabolites, other Products antibiotics, marine toxins, Salmonella spp, vibrio spp, noroviruses, Hepatitis A and other viruses, parasites, histamine, anthrax contamination

Fruits & Pesticide residues, sulphur dioxide, E.coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria, anthrax contamination, parasites, Vegetables heavy metals, nitrates and nitrites

Processed Microorganisms, bacterial toxins, synthetic organic colours, sudan dyes, para red, non-permitted colours, Food chemical preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, mycotoxins, heavy metals, migration of metals, antioxidants, 3- monochloro-propane-1,2-diol, 1,3-dichloropropanol, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, non-permitted flavouring agents, acrylamide, formaldehyde, residual chemicals in food-contact articles, migration of chemicals from food-contact articles, ethyl carbamate, N-nitrosamines, mineral hydrocarbons, bromate, pesticide residues, drug residues, radionuclide contaminants, trihalomethanes, screening of irradiated food, adulterants, semicarbazide, benzene and histamine

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 35

animal health & welfare Safeguarding Animal Health and Welfare

VA has consistently and successfully kept the nation free from major exotic and zoonotic diseases, such Aas the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), rabies, Nipah virus infection, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), anthrax, and brucellosis. We continue to do so via comprehensive and integrated programmes that ensure both animals and humans in Singapore stay healthy and safe from such threats.

PREVENTING THE INTRODUCTION OF ANIMAL DISEASES

AVA exercises a range of strategies to guard against the introduction and spread of animal diseases in Singapore. The regulation of animal imports into Singapore is a key strategy. In addition, AVA maintains a comprehensive animal disease surveillance programme, which includes the surveillance of local and imported animal populations for harmful pathogens.

AVA also closely monitors the animal disease situation in our trading partners. In the event of an outbreak of a disease of concern, AVA may suspend imports from affected countries to prevent the introduction of the disease to Singapore. When An imported pet dog under quarantine at AVA’s Sembawang Animal the disease outbreak is over, or when AVA assesses that the Quarantine Station. AVA imposes quarantine and vaccination requirements necessary risk mitigation measures have been implemented, on imported dogs based on the assessment of each exporting country’s rabies AVA will lift the suspension from such countries to minimise status and developments in the control of rabies. trade disruption.

Import of Ornamental Fishes (except CITES/Koi) via Parcel Posts Review of Import and Quarantine Conditions In late 2010, AVA reviewed the import of ornamental fish Veterinary conditions for the importation of dogs and cats, delivered by parcel posts. As the majority of imports of sheep and horses, as well as goats for slaughter, were reviewed ornamental fishes via parcel posts into Singapore were within in FY 2011. the permissible allowance given for travellers and were mainly for personal use, AVA removed the need for such imports to be subjected to requirements imposed for commercial imports. Import Conditions for Dogs and Cats The current import allowance given for travellers to bring in AVA imposes quarantine and vaccination requirements on ornamental fish was extended to imports via parcel posts on imported dogs and cats based on the assessment of each 1 July 2011. exporting country’s rabies status and developments in the control of rabies. To support AVA’s animal health programmes, we carry out import risk assessments based on use of effective Import Conditions for Horses rabies vaccines, identification of animals and laboratory tests AVA included standardised health certificates and captain’s for rabies anti-bodies. This has provided for greater protection declaration templates in the Veterinary Conditions for the from the risk of introduction of rabies, while at the same time Importation of Horses on 23 September 2011. The templates allowed for more animals to be exempted from quarantine offer competent authorities of exporting countries a clearer from approved countries. understanding of our health certification requirements, which will in turn increase the rate of compliance. In FY 2011, AVA’s risk assessments led to the reclassification of Germany, Finland, and Italy to Category C, and Denmark to Category B.

38 looking after you | animal health & welfare Import Conditions for Sheep and Goats for Slaughter AVA reviewed the veterinary conditions for the import of sheep and goats, and included a requirement for a slaughter permit if slaughter is not carried out at a licensed slaughterhouse. The slaughter permit fees were also revised, with effect from 14 October 2011.

Import and Handling of Non-human Primates The import of non-human primates (NHP) for research purposes carries some risks of zoonotic disease. AVA worked with the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Health to draw up the guidelines for the handling of NHPs in research institutes to reduce zoonotic disease risk.

Issuance of Licences and Permits In FY 2011, AVA issued 53,077 import licences/permits for animals, birds, eggs, veterinary biologics, and animal products.

Category Number of Permits Issued AVA monitors imported pigs for swine influenza as part of our animal health Pigs, poultry, and eggs 34,593 surveillance programme. Animals (dogs, cats, small mammals, 6,367 livestock, zoo animals) Local Disease Surveillance Biologics 130 Birds 384 Domestic Poultry and Ornamental Birds Ornamental fishes 11,031 All local poultry farms were monitored for SE, Newcastle Eggs (Specific Pathogen-Free eggs, 32 Disease, and Avian Influenza in the FY. One local poultry farm specimens for laboratory tests) was detected with SE. The infected flocks were treated with Products (blood, sera, urine, clinical 540 organic acids and pro-biotics, and eggs from these flocks were specimens) sent to an AVA-approved liquid-egg processing plant. The isolation order imposed on all infected flocks was subsequently Total 53,077 lifted after two consecutive rounds of negative testing for SE was achieved. Imported Live Poultry All ornamental bird farms were monitored in FY 2011 for Avian In FY 2011, one consignment of ducks was investigated for Influenza and Newcastle Disease. AVA inspected these farms high mortality. The mortality was ascertained to be caused by to ensure vigilance in biosecurity and upkeep of good farm prolonged transport stress as the ducks were loaded two hours management practices. earlier than usual.

All imports of poultry (chickens and ducks) and eggs were Livestock Farms regularly sampled to test for avian influenza, salmonella and During the FY, our local ruminant farms continued to be other contaminants. Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) was detected free from BSE, Bovine Tuberculosis, FMD, Listeria, Brucella, in 17 batches of live chicken samples, and the 17 farms that Campylobacter, and Salmonella. A local ruminant farm that was supplied these chickens were suspended. tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 was advised to treat its cattle with pro-biotics. The pasteurised milk produced by the farm was tested to ensure it is safe for human consumption. Imported Live Pigs AVA continued to monitor imported pigs for swine influenza as part of our animal health surveillance programme. Novel A/H1N1 (2009) strain of influenza was detected in pre-export and abattoir pig samples between May and August 2011. However, as no significant clinical disease of influenza was observed in the affected farm, the surveillance programme was reviewed and in July 2011, sampling for H1N1 testing from the abattoir and Bulan farm was reduced to twice a month. In order to obtain more in-depth knowledge of the isolated swine influenza viruses, we initiated collaboration with the Duke- NUS Graduate Medical School’s Emerging Disease Programme to study the evolution of new strains that can arise from the continuous re-assortment between strains circulating in the Bulan farm.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 39 Fish Farms AVA also continued to assist farmers to screen imported fry for AVA continued to monitor for notifiable and emerging diseases diseases of concern prior to stocking fish in their farms, under of economic importance to the aquatic animal industry. the voluntary Imported Fingerling Surveillance Programme. Surveillance was conducted on both coastal and land-based fish ISKNV and VNNV were detected in imported fish fingerlings farms, and results showed that Singapore remained free from sampled under the programme. This suggests that imported fish Spring Viraemia of Carp, and Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome in fingerlings could be a source of infection and should continue FY 2011. to be screened prior to stocking on the farm to minimise production losses due to disease. AVA advised affected farmers Since 2002, surveillance results have shown that there had on how to manage these diseases and encouraged them to cull been no positive detections of the following freshwater diseases sick fish to minimise the spread of diseases in local waters. in local fish farms: Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia, Infectious Farmers were increasingly seeing the value of the programme, haematopoietic necrosis, Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis, and participation from the industry had increased since its and Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis. In view of the negative implementation in early 2011. detections and absence of susceptible species for these four diseases in Singapore, AVA reviewed and replaced its active surveillance programme for aquatic farms and animals with a passive surveillance programme in October 2011. Instead of actively collecting samples to test for the four diseases, AVA will only test suspect cases (passive surveillance).

During the FY, two batches of imported koi sampled under our koi import surveillance programme tested positive for Koi Herpes Virus (KHV). Immediate measures were taken to control the spread of the disease and all batches of koi that tested positive were culled. AVA also issued quarantine orders on the farm premises, which was lifted after proper disinfection was conducted.

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) was detected in crayfish from two ornamental fish farms. AVA imposed quarantine orders to restrict movement of all crustaceans within the premises, and culled all diseased and in-contact crustaceans. The quarantine order was lifted after proper disinfection and treatment of affected tanks and equipment was completed.

Other diseases surveyed for in freshwater ornamental fish for FY 2011 included Infectious Spleen and Kidney Nervous Necrosis Virus (ISKNV), Goldfish Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (GFHNV) and furunculosis (caused by Aeromonas Salmonicida).

Marine fish diseases, such as Red Sea Bream Iridovirus (RSIV), ISKNV, and Viral Nervous Necrosis Virus (VNNV) were detected in local coastal food fish farms since the start of AVA monitors for notifiable and emerging diseases of economic importance surveillance in early 2011. As RSIV is an OIE notifiable virus, AVA to the aquatic animal industry. Surveillance is conducted on both coastal imposed movement restrictions on the affected farms, culled and land-based fish farms. the infected and clinically sick fish, and monitored the existing stock. Following the approval of the RSIV vaccine (MSD) for use in Singapore, farms were given the option of vaccinating clean stock prior to stocking.

40 looking after you | animal health & welfare in Singapore. Epidemiological surveillance is supported by developments in multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) of LABORATORY CAPABILITIES Escherichia coli.

Ongoing developments include an ELISA for Koi Herpes Virus The Animal Health Laboratories (AHL) located at AVA’s (KHV) antibodies, multiplex detection of Avian Influenza Animal and Plant Health Centre (APHC) is the national antibodies via micro-particle immunoassays, and the reference laboratory for the diagnosis of animal diseases and development of two new test methods for shrimp diseases testing of animal vaccines. – PCR detection for Baculovirus penaei (BP) and Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis Bacterium (NHP-B). In FY 2011, AHL conducted a total of 191,916 laboratory tests to detect and identify diseases in animals, birds and fish. AHL’s work is underscored by a commitment to quality Besides acquiring new detection techniques to keep abreast systems and has been accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 since of the rigorous import health certification requirements of 2006. Its high laboratory testing standards were reflected in its other countries and thus facilitate agri-trade for stakeholders, continued accreditation in the field of chemical and biological AHL also continuously updates and develops new methods testing under the Singapore Accreditation Council – Singapore to improve upon existing pathogen detection and disease Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS). All the diagnosis protocols. animal health laboratories continued to meet the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standards. AHL added seven new accredited tests in the FY, bringing the total to 102 accredited tests. In addition, AHL demonstrated good performance in the 12 inter-laboratory proficiency quality assurance testing programmes administered by internationally recognised laboratories.

Safeguarding Against Bird Flu During the FY, AVA regularly inspected all local poultry farms to ensure that bio-security and biosegregation measures were strictly adhered to, and that all poultry houses were bird-proofed. Samples were also collected monthly for Avian Influenza testing. We collaborated with the National Parks Board (NParks) on the surveillance of HPAI in migratory and wild birds in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves, Pulau Ubin, and Singapore Botanic Gardens. The 321 samples collected tested negative for HPAI. Six swans in the Singapore Botanic Gardens were given booster shots after being vaccinated against HPAI in the last FY. Two cygnets were also vaccinated against HPAI during the FY. Samples were collected from the swans after four weeks for serological tests, and showed sero- The Animal Health Laboratories located at AVA’s Animal and Plant Health conversion in the birds. Centre conducted a total of 191,916 laboratory tests to detect and identify diseases in animals, birds and fish.

During the FY, AHL expanded its diagnostic repertoire, to include testing capabilities for the detection of Aeromonas salmonicida, Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV), and GFHNV, as well as improved rapid detection of Salmonella spp by the BAX system, serological detection of neutralising antibodies against Japanese Encephalitis Virus, and detection of rabies virus using immunohistochemistry.

In addition, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods were also established to detect various parasites, such as Leishmania sp. and Babesia gibsoni. The development of the Leishmania sp PCR proved its worth when this testing modality was used as one of the several testing modalities to confirm the presence of Leishmaniasis (a notifiable disease under AVA’s Animals & AVA collaborates with the National Parks Board on the surveillance of HPAI in Birds Act) in a clinically ill bulldog. This detection represents migratory and wild birds in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves, Pulau Ubin, the first case of an animal related leishmaniasis ever reported and Singapore Botanic Gardens.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 41 Regulating Research Institutions AVA licenses animal research facilities that use animals for ANIMAL WELFARE scientific purposes. Research facilities are required to comply with guidelines set by the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) on the care and use AVA safeguards the welfare of animals and prevents animal of animals in research. As at 30 April 2012, there were 26 cruelty through regulation and education. In this role, AVA has research facilities with 63 licensed premises. These facilities to deal with a spectrum of attitudes towards animals, which undergo annual inspection to ensure compliance with range from people who find animals a nuisance to those who licensing conditions. During the FY, AVA streamlined licensing champion their welfare. processes for procedural rooms to achieve savings in costs and time for facilities. Going forward, AVA will be working with NACLAR to update the guidelines to be in line with Regulating Pet Retailers and Dog Farms international developments. In FY 2011, there were 256 licensed pet shops, as compared to 259 the preceding year. Regular inspections were carried out in pet shops to ensure compliance with licensing conditions and Public Education Programme on Responsible Pet Ownership that shop standards were maintained. Thirteen pet shops were Besides surveillance and regulation, AVA also places issued compound fines for failure to comply with licensing importance on educating the public on responsible pet conditions, as compared to 23 in the last FY. ownership (RPO).

AVA grades pet shops to further enhance competencies and In FY 2011, AVA chose the theme “A Pet is for Life” with the sub- standards, and to inform the public of the standard of the pet messages, “Don’t get pets on impulse” (targeting potential pet shop they patronise. The shops are graded according to their owners) and “Don’t abandon your pets” (targeting existing pet compliance with licensing conditions and adoption of best owners), in its efforts to raise public awareness on RPO, and practices. The grades are displayed in the shop and also on encourage owners to be responsible for their pets for life. AVA’s website. In FY 2011, 99 percent of pet shops graded attained either A or B grades. None was given the D grade. To reach out directly to members of the public, the annual RPO Roadshow was held at the Singapore Expo on 12-13 November 2011, with Mr Tan Chuan Jin, Minister Of State for National Enforcement Against Animal Cruelty Development as the Guest-of-Honour. The RPO Roadshow In FY 2011, AVA investigated 444 complaints of alleged animal was supported by AVA’s RPO Partners (i.e. Animal Lovers cruelty. Of these, two offenders were prosecuted and two League, Action for Singapore Dogs, Animal Concerns Research others were issued composition fines. No actions were taken & Education Society, Cat Welfare Society, House Rabbit in a few cases due to insufficient evidence. For the majority of Society, Housing Development Board, National Parks Board, cases, counselling was provided as appropriate. Noah’s Ark CARES, Singapore Kennel Club, and the Society for

AVA carries out regular inspections at pet shops to ensure compliance with licensing conditions and that shop standards were maintained.

42 looking after you | animal health & welfare (8th from left to right:) AVA Chairman, Mr Koh Soo Keong; Minister of State for National Development, Mr Tan Chuan Jin; AVA CEO, Ms Tan Poh Hong; with animal welfare groups who participated in the annual Responsible Pet Ownership Roadshow 2011. the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and included activities, were made available to the public, one of which was done in such as dog obedience training demonstrations, mock-up vet collaboration with Nanyang Polytechnic. Three photography clinics, competitions, and seminars that attracted more than contests were also held via the site. 5,000 people. AVA also attended and supported community and industry We organised a RPO art competition that attracted over 4,000 related events, such as Singapore Kennel Club’s National Day participants. Winners were presented their awards at the RPO Dog Walk, ACRES Animal Welfare Forums, Singapore Press Roadshow 2011. The winning artwork were reproduced on Holding’s Fun by the Beach, among others. pocket calendars distributed to schools and at public events.

A mass media campaign was launched to drive visitorship to the RPO Roadshow and spread the theme of the year. This included newspaper and online advertisements, free postcards, and bus hangers.

Besides the roadshow, AVA also continued to develop RPO awareness in the young through a total of 26 school talks and 26 Learning Journeys for 20,252 students throughout FY 2011. We engaged teachers and students in RPO activities through our RPO Ambassador Programmes, which included training and learning opportunities in RPO events or projects. A total of 75 Student Ambassadors enrolled in our Ambassador Programme. Their efforts were recognised on the first AVA Ambassador Day held on 24 March 2012.

AVA also tapped on the use of a puppet show, in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic, to spread RPO messages at the libraries. AVA organised a RPO art competition that attracted over 4,000 participants. AVA’s microsite, Pet Central, at www.petsforlife.com.sg, was Winners were presented their awards at the RPO Roadshow 2011. revamped. A blog was added and two new electronic games

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 43 AVA continued to loan animal traps to residents and organisations facing stray cat and dog problems, and to accept ANIMAL MANAGEMENT stray animals surrendered to the Centre for Animal Welfare and Control (CAWC) by members of the public. CAWC received 7,811 public feedback on animal nuisance in FY 2011. Licensing of Dogs It also took in 4,523 stray animals, including 1,523 dogs. All dogs above three months of age have to be licensed by AVA for rabies control. In 2011, AVA issued 59,007 dog licenses. Officers carried out inspections at various premises to ensure that dogs were licensed. Enforcement was carried out on errant dog owners who did not comply with the dog licensing rules and conditions.

In addition, AVA piloted a re-homing programme for impounded stray dogs in August 2011, with support from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other Animal Welfare Groups (AWGs). This was followed by a review of the re-homing fee in November 2011. Impoundment fees, as well as fines on straying and unlicensed dogs, were waived to members of the public claiming impounded stray dogs.

First Responder Protocol To ensure that public feedback on immediate animal-related issues are handled effectively and efficiently, AVA was appointed as the first agency to pilot the First Responder Protocol on animal-related feedback. Under the new protocol, AVA will take the lead in coordinating the efforts of relevant agencies (including the National Environment Agency, and Working with animal welfare groups, AVA piloted a re-homing programme Housing and Development Board) in responding to public for impounded stray dogs in August 2011. feedback on animal related issues.

Management of Strays Category No. of Cases AVA continued to conduct control operations to manage the stray population and ensure public health and safety. Stray Licensing of Dogs dogs, especially when in a pack, can threaten public safety. New dog licenses issued 12,748 Keeping the stray dog population in check also helps to Dog licenses renewed 46,259 mitigate the spread of rabies should there be an incursion of the disease. Besides advising the management of industrial Total 59,007 and commercial sites on ways to control the population of Control of Stray Animals and Birds stray dogs and cats on their premises, AVA also educated Stray dogs impounded 1,523 the public on ways to reduce problems caused by stray dogs and cats in their neighbourhood. In addition, AVA also worked Stray cats impounded 1,888 with NParks to advise residents on ways to avoid unpleasant Others 1,112 encounters with stray monkeys. Total 4,523 In addition, AVA piloted a re-homing programme for impounded Feedback On Animal and Bird Nuisance stray dogs in August 2011, with support from the Society for Dogs 3,633 the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other Animal Welfare Cats 2,460 Groups (AWGs). This was followed by a review of the re-homing fee in November 2011. Impoundment fees, as well as fines on Pigeons 611 straying and unlicensed dogs, were waived to members of the Monkeys 728 public claiming impounded stray dogs. Others 379 AVA works closely with AWGs to re-home suitable stray Total 7,811 dogs. Adopters are required to bear the cost of licensing, microchipping, and boarding. They must also sterilise the dogs and ensure that the dogs are not released back into the environment.

44 looking after you | animal health & welfare SEACFMD Meeting In addition, AVA represented Singapore in the 18th Meeting of VETERINARY PROFESSION the OIE Sub-Commission for FMD in Southeast Asia and China (SEACFMD), held on 5-9 March 2012. The meeting aimed to advance the implementation of the SEACFMD Campaign AVA regulates the veterinary profession in Singapore and in accordance with the SEACFMD 2020 Roadmap. Issues licenses veterinarians and veterinary centres. As at 31 March covered included countries’ updates of the FMD situation; 2012, there were 246 veterinarians and 53 veterinary centres SEACFMD’s approach to implementing OIE standards on licensed by the AVA. FMD, FAO/OIE Progressive Control Pathway (PCP); as well as vaccination approaches in identified hotspots. Singapore has In conjunction with the Singapore Veterinary Association agreed to host the 19th Meeting of the SEACFMD in 2013. (SVA), AVA reviewed and revised the Code of Ethics for Veterinarians to provide clearer guidance for the veterinary profession and the community. The review was conducted over Singapore-Jilin Food Zone a period of two years in consultation with veterinarians and To support the development of the Singapore-Jilin Food Zone practice owners, and with reference to various international in China for the production of safe quality food for local codes of ethics for veterinarians. The changes were focused on consumption and export to Singapore, AVA collaborated areas such as specialist claims, emergency services, (choice with the Jilin City Government to establish a FMD Free Zone of) therapies, medical records including diagnostic imaging in the Food Zone according to international standards. A records, advertising, treatment of animals (surgical and other six-day training course on Risk Assessment and Laboratory interventions), as well as fees and remuneration. Techniques for FMD was conducted by experts from OIE, Australia, and China from 6-11 February 2012 in Singapore. Participants comprised trainees from Jilin Province and the relevant municipalities and AVA staff. A Standard Operating STAYING ALERT Procedure for follow-up action on suspicious results in FMD AGAINST EMERGING detection was developed during this course. THREATS & ISSUES

AVA’s horizon scanning function helps the organisation to pick up Internet reports of animal disease outbreaks, discoveries of unexpected or novel pathogens, and changes in the behaviour of known pathogens. The focus is on animal diseases that can pose a threat to overall animal and public health in Singapore, such as BSE, Avian Influenza, diseases (such as Hendra Virus), as well as FMD outbreaks in the region. Our daily scanning helps enhance AVA’s operational readiness by providing lead time for AVA to take immediate measures to safeguard the health of our animals, as well as public health in Singapore.

OIE Meetings and Trainings The OIE, an intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health, provides expertise and information on animal diseases, promotes transparency in the status of world animal diseases, and develops international standards for combating animal diseases. To keep abreast of issues and developments, AVA represented Singapore at the 79th General Session of the World Assembly held at Paris from 22 to 27 May 2011. The General Session was attended by representatives of Governments from the 153 OIE member countries, intergovernmental (FAO, WHO, World Bank, WTO, etc.), regional and international organisations. To ensure that public feedback on immediate animal-related issues are handled effectively and efficiently, AVA was appointed as the first agency to pilot the First Responder Protocol on Animal Related Feedback.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 45 During “Exercise Gallus VI”, AVA tested its crisis management framework and the operational readiness of AVA staff when dealing with an outbreak of Bird Flu.

Emergency Preparedness To foster a coordinated approach to bird flu control, AVA’s sixth exercise to test our operational preparedness stakeholders such as the Wildlife Reserves Singapore, in responding to an outbreak of bird flu was successfully Singapore Civil Defence Force, Ministry of Health, National conducted on 22 March 2012 at our Veterinary Public Health Environment Agency as well as Malaysia’s Department of Centre (VPHC) and a local poultry farm. Code-named Veterinary Services were invited to observe the exercise and “Exercise Gallus VI”, the exercise, which involved at least provide feedback on areas for improvement. 200 officers, tested AVA’s crisis management framework and the operational readiness of AVA staff in dealing with an outbreak of Bird Flu. Different aspects of the contingency plan were scrutinised to identify areas that require modification or improvement.

In preparation for Exercise Gallus VI, about 50 AVA officers were trained to be cullers. The objective was to provide the staff with hands on experience of the culling process. The training also involved medical screening, and donning and doffing of personal protection equipment (PPE).

The exercise examined the activation and recall process for emergency responders, efficiency of logistics teams in preparing staff for their assigned duties, efficiency of the mock “culling and disposal” system (no chickens were used in this exercise), a new foam decontamination process and a new surveillance protocol at an “unaffected” poultry farm. Activation and recall process was smooth, with emergency responders involved reacting promptly when activated.

Mock culling and disposal of sand bags, used in replacement of live chickens.

46 looking after you | animal health & welfare Workshops and Seminars for Local Farms AVA invited a poultry nutrition specialist to conduct a talk STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT on poultry nutrition for our local poultry and quail farms in AND COLLABORATION August 2011. A newsletter – containing updates on local and global matters of interest to the poultry industry, tips on good biosecurity measures, and updates on AVA’s Food Fund – was distributed to local poultry farms during the FY. AVA collaborates with the industry, research institutes, local educational institutes, and overseas partners to develop new diagnostic methods for the detection of important animal diseases, as well as to conduct epidemiological studies of significant diseases, and enhance surveillance efforts. Dialogue sessions were also conducted with non-government organisations to strengthen mutual understanding and collaboration.

Vaccine and Test Method Development During the FY, AVA, together with Temasek Life Science Laboratory, embarked on the development of a bird ­flu vaccine and diagnostic reagents for Avian In­fluenza. We collaborated with the Duke-National University of Singapore to carry out phylogenetic analysis on swine influenz­ a viruses to study their AVA invited poultry nutrition specialist, Dr Chew Poo Chin, to conduct a talk evolution and monitor for emerging new pandemic strains. AVA on poultry nutrition for our local poultry and quail farms in August 2011. also embarked on collaboration with Veredus Laboratories to produce a lab-on-chip that has the ability to detect multiple avian pathogens in one test. As part of the strategy to increase Singapore’s local production for fishes, AVA collaborated with MSD Animal Health in In addition, we began working with Temasek Polytechnic (TP) September 2011 to organise workshops on good aquaculture to produce diagnostic kits and tests for Salmonella, VNNV, and practices, prevention and control of diseases, health shrimp viruses. management, and nutrition. Another two workshops were held in February and March 2012 to equip farmers with knowledge AVA also worked with TP on the development of a rapid test on how to perform basic parasite diagnosis on their farms, as method to detect SE antibodies in chicken blood and eggs, and well as to manage diseases to increase yield and productivity. a simple and user-friendly Point-of-Care detection kit for the presence of antibody to VNNV in marine food fish. The first and second issues of the AVA Aquaculture Newsletter were published and distributed in English and Mandarin to the coastal fish farmers. The newsletter featured global updates Control of Bird Flu in the Kepri Region in the aquaculture industry, and information on disease and AVA continued to work with the Indonesian veterinary health management. authorities on the control of bird flu in the Kepri region. AVA officers visited Kepri on a regular basis during the FY for discussions and to obtain any information on bird flu outbreaks. Focus Group Dialogue The AVA conducted a focus group dialogue with stakeholders We continued to assist Kepri in their bird flu public education from the ornamental fish industry on 21 June 2011. Attendees efforts by supplying educational materials and social included members of the Singapore Aquarium Fish Export marketing items for their school children and farmers. We also Association and Singapore Aquarium Fish Dealers’ Association, conducted two training workshops for Kepri officers in FY 2011 and the import of ornamental fish species deemed unsuitable to further enhance the effectiveness of their HPAI surveillance to be sold as pets in Singapore was discussed. and control programme.

AVA also contributed essential laboratory equipment and consumables for a new laboratory in Tanjong Pinang, Bintan in FY 2011. This laboratory is expected to be operational in FY 2012. AVA will train the laboratory staff (on-site) on HPAI diagnostic methods in FY 2012. In 2007, AVA assisted Batam city to set up a similar laboratory for PCR testing of HPAI.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 47

plant health Safeguarding Plant Health

VA is committed to protecting our local flor­ a from the Import Control and Inspection negative impact of exotic and emerging indigenous AVA regulates the import of plants and plant products through Aplant pests and diseases. Through a robust science- stipulated plant health import requirements. During the FY, based and internationally recognised plant health regulatory 36,227 import permits were issued. system, we aim to maintain plant biosecurity to protect the sustainability and diversity of our landscape. Our AVA also conducted 3,652 post-entry inspections to ensure comprehensive plant health programme, comprising import compliance with import health requirements and to detect regulation and inspection, risk analysis, as well as laboratory pests, samples were collected for laboratory tests. In cases testing and surveillance, successfully kept Singapore free where injurious pests were detected, importers were given from important quarantine pests and diseases. These include the option of treatment, if feasible, or destruction of the the stored product pest Khapra beetle; Mediterranean and consignment. Queensland fruit fl­ies; and the fungal disease of rubber, the South American leaf blight. Our efforts are supported by the close cooperation and partnership with local government Imported Living Organisms agencies and plant industries. Through the administration of the Biosecurity Assurance Arrangement (BSAA) Scheme, AVA regulates the import of living organisms, such as live insects and microorganisms that have an impact on the environment. Importers are required to have proper facilities and management procedures that prevent the accidental escape of these living organisms. AVA conducts audits on their facilities and procedures periodically. There were 32 BSAA members at the end of the FY.

Plant Health Surveillance Each year, AVA reviews our surveillance programmes to include specific surveys, with different pests and disease targets, in order to keep up with the rapid changes in the ecological landscape. This helps AVA to detect pest incursions early and keep Singapore free from them, as well as to identify potential biosecurity threats.

AVA protects the sustainability and diversity of our landscape, and has successfully kept Singapore free from important quarantine pests and Imported Plants diseases. Ornamental plants that are imported to beautify our urban landscape are also possible pathways for potential introductions of invasive parasitic plant pests. AVA’s plant health surveillance programmes check for the presence of exotic plant pests or diseases that could threaten local flora PREVENTING THE ENTRY OF and crops of economic importance. PLANT PESTS AND DISEASES

As Singapore imports several varieties of plants that are not grown locally, AVA works to ensure the smooth import of plants without compromising plant health. With large amounts of plants moving across our borders daily, AVA collaborates with the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority and Singapore Post to monitor imports closely, and safeguard our plants against pests and diseases that can cause significant economic losses through reduced yields, quality, and cost efficiency.

50 looking after you | plant health During the FY, AVA continued surveillance efforts on AVA’s post-border programme focuses on identified high risk four targeted quarantine pests, viz, the Khapra beetle; sites, such as those near port of entries, high volume nurseries, Mediterranean fruit fly; Queensland fruit fly; and South and local farms. In FY 2011, AVA conducted 1,758 surveillance American leaf blight. A total of 211 inspections were conducted visits to these high risk sites and collected more than 19,000 on imported plants and plant products, and 1,111 samples samples of plants, insect traps, and soil to check for their plant were collected and submitted for identification. None of the health status. organisms detected were targeted quarantine pests.

AVA also carried out surveillance on imported potatoes to check for Potato Wart Disease (PWD) and Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN). While potatoes are not grown in Singapore, they are imported in large quantities by local food companies that re-package and re-export them with health certificates from AVA. To protect our potato re-export industry from the risk of pest incursions brought about by imported potatoes, AVA conducted 125 inspections on import consignments, and collected 63 and 62 samples for PCN and PWD testing, respectively. All samples tested negative for PCN and PWD.

In March 2011, AVA began a new surveillance programme to monitor the presence of guava fruit flies (Bactrocera correcta) on imported rose apples from Thailand. All 29 samples that were collected tested negative for the target pest.

Local Plants AVA keeps close tabs on local vegetable farms, orchids and ornamental nurseries, as well as plant exhibitions to ensure that there is no outbreak of plant pests that could disrupt local production. As a result, Singapore continued to remain free of six targeted quarantine pests viz, the Khapra beetle; Mediterranean fruit fly; Queensland fruit fly; South American leaf blight; PWD; and PCN. AVA conducted surveillance visits to high risk sites and collected samples of plants to check for their health status.

Nine identified high-risk parks near ports of entry were monitored over three years (2009-2011). We found no significant difference in the pest statuses of these parks at the end of the monitoring period, as compared to the beginning. Many foliar fungal pathogens were found to be associated with a wide range of plant species in these parks. The infestation of Ardisia trees by Bagworm (Pagodiella species) remained of notable concern in two parks – Labrador Park and MacRitchie Park – as the infestation severity remained relatively high throughout the three years. AVA followed up by providing control recommendations to the park managers in National Parks Board (NParks) for treatment. The Ardisia trees at MacRitchie Park had since been replaced as a result of a recent facelift of the park.

AVA keeps a close tab on local orchid nurseries through regular visits and pest monitoring systems to ensure that there is no outbreak of plant pests.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 51 Through regular monitoring of local farms, we detected an New Plant Pest/Host Records incursion of Cochliobolus carbonum (a quarantine fungal pest) in AVA recorded 24 new plant pests, as well as hosts for pests, maize plants grown in a local vegetable farm. A delimiting survey during our surveillance programme in the FY. Appropriate from this farm was initiated and four more farms around it were control measures were taken against pests deemed to pose a also found with C. carbonum infested maize plants. With the serious impact to the local horticulture industry. close cooperation of relevant stakeholders, all infested maize plants were eradicated and the situation is still being monitored.

A serious outbreak of Frankliniella occidentalis (Western Flower Thrips) occurred at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay in early 2012. The insect pest, which infected more than 15 other flowering plants, is one of the most destructive pests found in greenhouses that grow ornamental plants. AVA worked with the management of the Gardens by the Bay to contain the outbreak and closely monitor the situation.

Soil Health During the FY, we completed the monitoring surveys necessary to establish the baseline nutrient database for the soil and tissue of Ixora and Heliconia in Singapore. The established databases would serve as a guide to determine the optimum range of nutrients for the growth and production of these plants.

AVA also conducts tests on soil samples from farms, landscaping contractors, and gardeners, to determine the nutrient levels in them. A large percentage of soil samples tested for major nutrients during FY 2011 were outside the acceptable ranges for plant growth.

Soil mixes from landscape companies were routinely tested by AVA to check for conformance to specifications, such as pH, AVA recorded 24 new plant pests, as well as hosts for pests, during our EC, organic matter level, and cation exchange capacity. The surveillance programme in the FY. tests showed wide variations in conformance. AVA followed up with advice on measures to be taken to ensure that the soil mixes comply with the specifications that have been established as industry standards for good plant growth. Plant Hosts Pests/Pathogens Pseudocercospora Alocasia species alocasiicola Areca catechu Zeutomorpha arecae Vitex trifolia Pseudocercospora viticicola Colocasia species Phytophthora colocasiae Cynodon dactylon x Gaeumannomyces graminis Cynodon transvaalensis var. graminis Arachis hypogaea Puccinia arachidis Helianthus species Cercospora bidentis Zea mays Cochliobolus carbonum

To ensure plant health, AVA also collects soil samples from farms to test Hibiscus cultivar, the nutrient levels in them. Hydrangea cultivar, Gerbera cultivar, Euryops pectinatus, Pentas lanceolata, Echeveria Under the Ministry of National Development’s initiative species, Cyclamen cultivar, to assess the impact of granite stockpile in Singapore, Pelargonium cultivar, Frankliniella occidentalis AVA sampled and monitored the soil parameters of the 23 Fuchsia, Portulaca, Sedum agrotechnology farms surrounding the granite stockpile in the sp., Kalanchoe, Senecio, last FY. We also continued our annual monitoring of orchid Dichondra argentea, farms around the granite stockpile in FY 2011. Both monitoring Anthericum species and surveys did not reveal any significant deviation in the soil Phalaenopsis orchids dynamics since the stockpiling began.

52 looking after you | plant health Nutrient analysis is conducted at the Plant Health Laboratory, using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer.

Pest Risk Analysis In FY 2011, the PHL completed more than 31,000 diagnostic During the FY, AVA completed a Weed Risk Analysis on tests. Thirteen samples for plant pests and soil analyses Rottboellia cochinchinensis and Striga asiatica. Based on the risk were received from overseas and processed under the BSAA assessment, both weed species were not recommended for observed by PHL. import into Singapore. PHL’s expertise in pesticide evaluation continued to be much Our risk assessment of Asecodes hispinarium and Tetrastichus sought after by local pesticide companies. We initiated nine brontispa (as potential biological control agents against field evaluation trials in the FY. hispid beetles) was endorsed by the AVA Biologics Evaluation Committee, as well as the National Biodiversity Centre, NParks PHL constantly seeks to extend the laboratory’s diagnostic for mass release in Singapore. capability and capacity. To enhance AVA’s capability to respond to incursions, and to undertake surveillance and post-border testing. In FY 2011, PHL established molecular Laboratory Testing for Plant Health identification capabilities for the Bemisia tabaci. This test, AVA’s Plant Health Laboratory (PHL) provides diagnostic together with the Real-time PCR identification of Thrips services for a wide range of plant pests including insects, palmi, was accredited under the ISO/IEC 17025 in FY 2011. mites, fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, and viruses. In addition, we provide analytical services for an extensive range of PHL continued to achieve accreditation in the field of chemical nutrients in soil, plant tissues, and planting materials. The and biological testing under the Singapore Accreditation tests conducted ranged from morphological examination, Council – Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme biological indicators, and serological techniques, to advanced (SAC-SINGLAS). The laboratories met all the requirements molecular and chemical/physical testing. PHL’s work is in the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standards with two new tests underpinned by a commitment to quality systems and has accredited. Our laboratories also performed well in the been accredited with ISO/IEC 17025 (2005) since 2006. four inter-laboratory proficiency quality assurance testing programmes, which were administered by the internationally recognised Wageningen Evaluating Programmes for Analytical Laboratories (WEPAL), Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 53 Research Collaboration To uphold Singapore’s reputation as a “City in a Garden”, AVA, NParks and National Institute of Education (NIE) began collaborating in FY 2010 to identify wood decay fungi from pruning wounds of common trees planted, such as the rain tree, yellow flame, and African mahogany, as well as to identify native strains of Trichoderma that could control these fungi.

In FY 2011, the collaboration resulted in the identification of one potential local Trichoderma strain for field application testing. Findings on “Preventing Fungal Decay in Pruning Wounds of Local Trees Using Native Trichoderma Strains as Biological Control Agents”, were shared through a poster exhibition at the Urban Sustainability R&D Congress in June 2011.

In a continued effort to introduce environmentally friendly pest management measures, AVA collaborated with NParks to field-test the use of parasitic wasps – Asecodes hispinarium and Tetrastichus brontispae – in the control of hispid beetles (Brontispa longissima) on palms. This was as a result of three years of study by AVA to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of these biological control agents.

In the FY, AVA started collaborating with the Singapore Golf Association to build up a local plant health database for golf courses in Singapore. Samples collected from the Sentosa Golf Club and Raffles Golf Club were concurrently submitted to AVA and overseas laboratories for diagnosis and comparison. AVA also embarked on collaboration with Syngenta Asia Pacific Pte Ltd on tree care management with the evaluation of AVA registers and approves all agricultural pesticides for use in vegetable, tree injection in early 2012. orchid, and ornamental plant farms. Our officers also conduct monthly Pesticide Usage Inspection to ensure that the fresh produce complies with requirements under the Control of Plant Act Extension Services and Training During the FY, AVA conducted plant health assessment visits in response to requests from commercial and Regulating Pesticide Usage residential establishments. The majority of them were from To ensure food, environmental and worker’s safety, AVA condominiums seeking support for the maintenance contracts registers and approves all agricultural pesticides for use of their landscape gardens, as well as the integrated resorts in in vegetable, orchid, and ornamental plant farms. AVA Sentosa. conducts monthly Pesticide Usage Inspections (PUIs) in these agricultural establishments to ensure that the fresh produce AVA also initiated collaboration with NParks to provide weekly complies with requirements under the Control of Plant Act. plant health advisory and pest monitoring services to urban During the PUIs, samples from locally produced food crops are farmers in Singapore’s housing estates, under the Community- collected for pesticide residue/microbial testing. In FY 2011, In-Bloom programme. These services aimed to help community 307 PUIs were conducted on local farms and 316 pesticide farmers enhance vegetable production. products were approved for agricultural use.

A team of AVA officers provided 4.5 days of training on AVA also certifies pesticide operators to supervise the “Introduction to Plant Biosecurity” to a group of Myanmar application of pesticides in our local farms. The number of government officials in Yangon in January/February 2012. This certified pesticide operators stood at 153 at end of FY 2011, training programme was part of the Singapore Cooperation as compared to 143 the year before. The increased number of Programme, under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration. certified pesticide operators would enhance the safe use of pesticides in farms, which is in tandem with AVA’s thus food safety programme.

In addition, Pesticide Operator Certification (POC) training and proficiency tests were conducted as part of the requirements for certification of competent pesticide operators in local farms. The two sessions of Pesticide Operators’ Safety Course took place in June and December 2011 for existing and new POC applicants.

54 looking after you | plant health 2011, AVA continued to educate the public on the impact of STAYING ALERT AGAINST plant health, disease, pests, and pesticide usage on our local flora, through four library talks under the NParks-National EMERGING THREATS & ISSUES Library Board Library Talk Series.

AVA participated in the 20th World Orchid Conference held AVA maintains its readiness to deal with incursions by testing from 13 to 20 November 2011, by exhibiting poster displays on and updating our contingency plans to combat outbreaks “Seasonal prevalence of thrips in Singapore” and “Detection of of plant diseases. We continued to detect plant pests early Thrips palmi using real-time PCR assay”. These displays won before diseases break out. In the FY, we began engaging the Joyce Stewart trophy for Best overall poster and second owners of rice warehouse premises in our contingency plan place for Best non-student poster, respectively. against the invasion of Khapra beetles. We also participated in international and regional conferences to keep abreast of the Stakeholder engagement in FY 2011 was sustained through latest developments and to lend our support and knowledge to the production and dissemination of monthly “Pest Health fight against invasive plant pests. Brief” bulletins to the horticulture industry and members of the surveillance network to keep them updated of the latest pest detections. This publication was revamped to include ENGAGING AND EDUCATING information on soil health and the use of pesticide after receiving feedback from our stakeholders. THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY

Our stakeholders play an important role in maintaining an effective biosecurity continuum. Responsibility for plant biosecurity in Singapore rests with the ‘whole of the community’, which includes the industry and public. In FY

AVA’s poster display on “Seasonal prevalence of thrips in Singapore” won the Joyce Stewart trophy for Best overall poster during World Orchid Conference 2011.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 55

agrotechnology Harnessing Technology to Optimise Singapore’s Limited Resources

n land scarce Singapore, our urban landscape leaves us with limited space for farming. With the aim to increase FARMLAND MANAGEMENT I self-sufficiency in key food items, as well as to maintain our competitive edge in the global orchid and ornamental fish market, AVA harnesses life sciences and technology for intensive large-scale farming. Our technological developments AVA developed six Agrotechnology Parks to promote are also shared with local farmers and overseas contract agrotechnology in Singapore. These Parks are well-equipped partners, to help them increase productivity and yield. In with modern infrastructure and facilities. Comprising a total addition to working with farmers, AVA collaborates with land area of about 1,465 hectares, these Parks are located at institutes and manufacturers, to develop innovative and value- Lim Chu Kang, Murai, Sungei Tengah, Mandai, Nee Soon, and added food products. Loyang.

In 2011, our farms produced seven percent of the leafy As at March 2012, about 700 hectares of land in the vegetables, seven percent of the fish, and 24 percent of the Agrotechnology Parks were allocated to 224 farms. Another 36 eggs consumed in Singapore. We aim to raise our sufficiency in hectares of land outside the Parks were allocated to 25 farms. leafy vegetables, fish, and eggs to 10 percent, 15 percent, and These included layer farms for egg production, freshwater fish 30 percent, respectively. farms, marine-fish farms, vegetable farms, goat and cattle farms, orchid and floriculture farms, and ornamental fish farms. In addition, there were 119 coastal fish farms occupying 93 hectares of sea space on Singapore’s coastal waters.

A layer farm for egg production in Singapore. AVA aims to raise self-sufficiency in eggs from 24% to 30%.

58 looking after you | agrotechnology AVA continued to visit local vegetables and orchid/ornamental Progress of the Selective Breeding Project plant farms regularly to ensure their compliance with AVA continued to collaborate with Temasek Life Sciences regulations and conditions of lease agreement. AVA also Laboratory (TLL) to develop cutting-edge genomics tools to worked closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA), identify individual Asian sea bass and Mozambique Tilapia the Public Utilities Board and other government agencies to that have good genetic traits to breed faster-growing and investigate tip-offs on irregularities in AVA-licensed farms. disease-resistant offspring. Such irregularities include the presence of illegal structures and unauthorised activities at farm premises. Appropriate After achieving more than 15 percent improvement in growth enforcement actions ranging from the issuance of advisory rate in sea bass, the project team continued to work towards letters to imposition of composition fines were taken against developing superior lines of food fish for the sea bass and errant farms followed by the rectification of the irregularities. marine tilapia.

In FY 2011, AVA performed a total of 11,349 surveillance and In FY 2011, the AVA-TLL team generated F2 Asian sea bass inspection visits on animal and plant/vegetable farms to check using aquaculture genomic tools for marker-assisted selective for irregularities. A total of 13 enforcement actions were taken breeding of tropical marine food fish. Moving forward, the against farms that were found to be non-compliant. team will conduct a farm-based comparative analysis of growth rates to test the performance of the F2 Asian sea bass.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT Development of a Fish Vaccination Machine AVA began working with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) to AND TRANSFER develop an automated vaccination machine that is able to vaccinate fin-fish fingerlings at a more efficient rate than manual vaccination. NYP had developed a prototype of the Research And Development (R&D) is vital to our efforts vaccinating mechanism with technical inputs from AVA. to increase agricultural productivity, self-sufficiency, and Further refinements will be carried out to improve the competitiveness. To improve the quality of our produce and accuracy of vaccine delivery into the fishes’ intraperitoneal achieve higher yields and value, our R&D projects focus on cavity. breeding, nutrition, disease control, aquaculture and vegetable production systems, as well as post-harvest technology. Field testing of Iridovirus Vaccine AVA collaborated with a commercial company to field-test a trivalent vaccine against Streptococcus iniae, Tenacibaculum AQUACULTURE maritimum, and Iridovirus diseases in the Asian sea bass. The aims of this test were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the R&D in marine aquaculture is carried out at AVA’s Marine combined vaccines under actual farming conditions. Sea bass Aquaculture Centre (MAC), while freshwater aquaculture fry were vaccinated at MAC and subsequently transferred to R&D is done at the Sembawang Research Station (SRS). a local fish farm for grow-out. Preliminary results showed that AVA also provides technical assistance and services to the the vaccinated fingerlings had better growth performances and aquaculture industry to help them increase productivity. survival rates as compared to previous unvaccinated batches.

R&D Projects Breeding of Pompanos in Local Farms Located on St John’s Island, MAC was established to undertake AVA has for the first time successfully induced pompano tropical marine food fish aquaculture technology development. (Trachinotus blochii) broodstock to spawn in Singapore’s During the year, MAC continued to develop fast-growing and tropical waters on a large scale basis. Pompano, a popular food good quality fish fry for intensive farming. It also collaborated fish, is farmed locally using imported fry. with research institutions and commercial companies to look into the automation of fish vaccination and testing of trivalent AVA will transfer this breeding technology to local hatcheries vaccine, so as to minimise fish mortality due to bacterial and to develop their technical capability and local supply of viral diseases. fingerlings. This, in turn, will reduce their reliance on imported fry, which is seasonal in nature. Local farms will thus have a ready supply of pompano fry, which would in turn boost local food fish production.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 59 To facilitate the development of Singapore’s food fish and ornamental fish industries, AVA’s Aquaculture Services Centre at the SRS provides technical advice to stakeholders, viz. investors, farmers and exporters. In FY 2011, AVA made over 400 visits to food fish and ornamental fish farms to monitor their performance and activities. On-site training sessions were also conducted for the farmers.

During the FY, AVA also worked closely with the Ornamental Fish Business Clusters (OFBC) members to look into areas of R&D to improve fish quality for export. A survey was conducted on the parasite load of locally bred and imported common ornamental fish species, to identify possible clean sources that exporters can tap on. AVA also experimented on indoor breeding of platy, a common type of fish for export. Experiment results showed better survival and health in platy bred indoors, as compared to outdoor culture methods currently practised by farmers. These findings would be shared with farmers and exporters at an Ornamental Fish Seminar jointly organised by AVA and OFBC in April 2012.

AVA has for the first time successfully induced pompano (Trachinotus blochii) Singapore aims to raise self-sufficiency in fish to 15 percent. broodstock to spawn in Singapore’s tropical waters on a commercially viable scale. AVA worked closely with local farmers to develop individual productivity improvement plans during the FY to help them meet the annual minimum output of 17 metric tonnes of fish Vertical Fish Farming per half-hectare of licensed farm area. AVA also organised A Research Collaboration Agreement was signed with regular workshops on coastal fish farm management for our Temasek Polytechnic during the FY, to jointly develop a simple, fish farmers to improve growth performance of their fish scalable and cost effective vertical fish farming technology stocks. The topics covered included good farm practices, and management system to breed and culture freshwater types of feed, as well as fish health and farm environment ornamental fish. This project aims to increase productivity of management. farms and maximise land use in land-scarce Singapore.

HORTICULTURE

Horticulture R&D is carried out at AVA’s SRS, as well as in collaboration with the commercial sector and research institutions.

R&D Projects During the FY, AVA embarked on R&D projects with the aim of increasing vegetable productivity through the use of technology. These projects cover home-growing systems, indoor farming, research on fast-growing varieties, as well as applications of supplementary lighting and seed-plug technology to increase yield and quality.

The vertical fish farming system is a simple, yet scalable and cost effective way Use of Seed-plug Technology in Vegetable Nursery to breed and culture freshwater ornamental fish in land-scarce Singapore. To improve farm productivity through the introduction and implementation of seed-plug technology to maximise crop cycles per year, tests were conducted on three types of growing media: soil, peat substrate, and compost. Findings based on Technical Assistance and Services germination rate, growth vigour, and chlorophyll content AVA works closely with local hatcheries to optimise existing indicated that peat substrate is best for seedling growth. methods and assists farms to increase their productivity in Further studies will be conducted to investigate other factors, both live-feed and fish fry productions. such as tray cell size, irrigation, transplanting age, fertiliser application, mechanisation, and use of coloured netting.

60 looking after you | agrotechnology With AVA’s assistance, a vegetable farm improves productivity through the introduction and implementation of seed-plug technology that can maximise crop cycles per year.

Vegetable Home-Growing Systems Vegetable Farming Systems Studies were conducted to establish the best practices To reduce the weight of planting trays in vertical systems, for cultivation of leafy vegetables on vertical systems that AVA also explored using pumice stone, which is lighter, to are suitable for homes. Three vertical planting systems replace soil. A study was conducted to compare the growth were identified and adapted for vegetable growing based performance of xiaobaicai and Chinese cabbage grown in a on design, modularity, and mobility. Agronomic trials on media containing pumice stone and chicken manure, with that growing media, irrigation method, and frequency, as well as in tray planting media (consisting soil, cocopeat and chicken nutrient application, were conducted on six common types of manure). Results showed that the plant weight of xiaobaicai vegetables (gailan, baicai, xiaobaicai, bayam, kangkong, and and Chinese cabbage grown in pumice stone were significantly sweet potato leaves) to develop vegetable growing systems lowered by 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Moving that the local community can easily make use of to grow forward, AVA will explore adding other forms of substrate to vegetables in confined spaces. the pumice stone growth media to improve yield.

Screening for High Yielding Vegetable Varieties AVA carried out screening and evaluation tests to identify faster growing and high-yielding leafy vegetable varieties for local cultivation. AVA screened and evaluated varieties of xiaobaicai, caixin, mustard, naibai and lettuce for desirable characteristics, such as short growing cycle, good germination, good survival rate, and high yields. Following the evaluation, eight varieties were selected based on good growth performance. AVA will be conducting further tests to determine their yield performance, before introducing the suitable varieties to farmers and help them increase farm productivity.

Use of LED for Growing Leafy Vegetables in Poly-Houses As the use of supplementary lighting is known to improve vegetable yield, AVA collaborated with a Finnish lighting company to study the effects of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) on the growth of leafy vegetable in a poly-house (greenhouse with a plastic roof and side netting).

Under normal circumstances, plants have a photoperiod of 12 hours. By extending photoperiod by four hours through the use The “Veggie Pipe” idea, which originated from a local irrigation solution of white-red LED supplemental lighting, a significant increase provider (NetaTech Pte Ltd), was adapted so that it can support the growth of in yield, fresh and dry weight, as well as plant and stem length various leafy vegetables and herbs. was observed.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 61 Yield was 17 percent higher compared to vegetables grown In another trial, lettuce was grown indoors to full maturity of without supplemental lighting. However, the cost of the light 34 days under red-blue LED light. Compared to plants grown tubes and energy required exceeded the gains achieved from in greenhouses, these lettuces grown under indoor conditions the improvement in yield. Thus, the use of white-red LED were greener, more tender, and had broader but fewer leaves, supplemental lighting is not a commercially viable option for with a 30-percent decrease in weight. AVA will further explore local farms as a means to improve productivity. suitable growing conditions for the plants.

Use of Solar Energy for Automated Greenhouse Ventilation and Technical Assistance and Services Supplementary Lighting Besides R&D, AVA also provides industry services to the AVA and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) successfully completed horticulture sector. The Horticulture Services Centre provides the joint-research project to research on the use of solar services on orchid tissue culture and seed pod germination. energy to automate greenhouse ventilation fans and lights. Consultancy services, field evaluation and training are The 2.5-year project, funded by the MND Research Fund, provided to both the orchid and vegetable industries. was carried out at Kok Fah Technology Farm. Results showed that vegetables grown under ventilation fans had shown The seed pod culture service continued to be popular amongst improvements in yields. In addition, analyses showed that growers, hobbyists, and schools, as it allows the breeding and it is cost effective to install ventilation fans in the modular selection of unique hybrids. In FY 2011, AVA received a total PVC-roof growing house to grow higher value leafy crops of 326 orders (comprising 31 different orchid genera) for seed such as gailan, as compared to growing Chinese cabbage. pod germination and 3,000 tissue culture plantlets for various commercial growers.

A greenhouse that uses solar energy to automate ventilation fans and supplementary lighting.

Indoor Vegetable Factory Farming Farm Productivity Improvement Plan AVA has been working on an indoor vegetable growing system Singapore aims to raise self-sufficiency in local leafy vegetables (factory-farming concept) to enable year-round production of from seven percent to 10 percent. To help local vegetable leafy vegetables regardless of climatic factors. In this system, farms do so, AVA has been working with farmers to identify vegetables are cultivated on shelves with temperature, relative productivity challenges and develop individual productivity humidity, luminance, air circulation, irrigation, and fertiliser improvement plans. dosing controls. Beyond FY 2011, AVA visited 30 vegetables farms and all of In FY 2011, a preliminary study was conducted to determine them were found to be on track and carrying out the activities the type of LED light best suited for indoor production of in their respective productivity improvement plans. Local lettuce seedlings, at 24 degree Celsius. The types of light production of leafy vegetables increased by 10 percent in the tested include white, red, blue, and red-blue (in the ratio of first quarter of FY 2011. The overall projected increase in local 2:1). Findings showed that red-blue LED light was the most production is expected to reach about 760 tonnes by the end suitable, based on germination rate, and growth performance of 2012 and 32 percent of this amount has been achieved by and uniformity. the end of FY 2011.

62 looking after you | agrotechnology Minister for National Development, Mr Khaw Boon Wan (front row 10th from left,) and AVA CEO, Ms Tan Poh Hong (front row 5th from left), visited the Goldhill Community in Bloom garden and its urban farmers on 28 March 2012.

Set-up of Vegetable Nursery With technical expertise and advice from AVA, the Sin Ming AVA facilitated a vegetable farm in its application for CIB Garden, in particular, flourished within a short span of Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) funding to time. Minister of State for Finance & Transport, Mrs Josephine establish a vegetable nursery. The farm was awarded funding Teo, was invited to harvest lettuces there during the Chinese in December 2010 to develop a fully automated vegetable New Year period on 15 January 2012. And on 28 March 2012, nursery that produces a large volume and wide variety Minister for National Development, Mr Khaw Boon Wan visited of quality seed plugs. The use of seed plug transplants in the Goldhill CIB garden, whose achievements included winning vegetable production increases yield and productivity. the three top awards at the Singapore Garden Festival 2010.

Vertical Vegetable Farming Survey on Market Distribution of Local Vegetables Following the development of the Vertical Farming System AVA conducted a survey on 36 farms in April 2011 to establish (VFS) prototype, AVA continued to assist in the establishment the distribution patterns of local vegetables in the market. of a commercial VFS through the provision of advisory services Survey findings showed that most local vegetable farms on agronomy and plant pest and disease management. The VFS distribute their produce through several channels. The wet can potentially deliver more than five times the productivity of market is the most common, with 22 farms distributing their traditional vegetable farms. vegetables through this mode. Other distribution channels were institutional buyers, wholesalers, and supermarkets. The successful development of the VFS won us Merit Award under the Minister for National Development’s R&D Award, which was presented by the Minister of State for National Industry Engagement Development and Manpower, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, during AVA conducted a half-day training course on “Soil Cultivation the inaugural Urban Sustainability R&D Congress on 27-28 for Leafy Vegetables” on 19 April 2011 for members of the June 2011. AVA put up a booth at the Congress Exhibition to Vegetable and Fruit Business Cluster (VFBC). Topics covered showcase the award-winning VFS project. include cultivation process, usage of chemical fertilisers, as well as general pest and disease management.

Improving Orchid Production System The ASEAN Taskforce on Horticultural Products developed and With the help of a local irrigation specialist company, AVA harmonised a series of quality standards, which would ensure assisted an orchid farm to explore technological solutions to the competitiveness of ASEAN produce internationally. These mechanise its irrigation and fertilisation systems, which would standards were shared with local importers during the VFBC reduce reliance on menial labour and improve productivity. meeting on 6 July 2011.

AVA held a dialogue session with local vegetable farmers on Enhancing Vegetable Production in Community Gardens 10 November 2011, to enhance mutual understanding. AVA During the FY, AVA collaborated with National Parks Board and the 14 representatives from nine farms in attendance (NParks) to train Community-in-Bloom (CIB) gardeners to grow discussed issues on manpower, land for vegetable farming, vegetables and develop a pool of skilled vegetable growers, so bank loans, local promotion, R&D and technology transfer. that their community gardens can enjoy higher vegetable yields.

From July to November 2011, AVA conducted weekly vegetable growing lessons and hands-on training for CIB gardeners from five estates. The training covered essential skills such as planting bed preparation, fertilising, irrigation, and harvesting, with a focus on leafy vegetables such as gailan, caixin, xiaobaicai and kangkong. These residents then passed on the skills they learnt to other gardeners in their communities.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 63 POST-HARVEST From March 2011 to February 2012, AVA explored the application of freeze-drying technology in protein-based AVA’s Post-harvest Technology Centre conducts post-harvest products. Six surimi-based products were tested for the and food research to improve the quality of food and food shelf-life stability after being subjected to the freeze- delivery in Singapore. To ensure Singapore’s food supply chain vacuum-drying technology. These freeze-dried products, is integrated, cost-effective and sustainable, AVA focuses on which are 80 percent lighter, proved to be shelf-stable for scientific research in post-harvest and processing technologies, one year and were able to retain a high quality after being via a holistic approach. We embark on collaborations with rehydrated. Following this, AVA will collaborate with a renowned research institutes and key industry stakeholders research institution to review the drying process, in order to promote product innovation, improve product shelf life, to reduce operating costs and time taken to freeze-dry the minimise wastage, optimise productivity, and enhance food products. safety in the food supply chain.

AVA assists the industry in optimising food manufacturing Anti-browning Agents in Fresh-Cut Fruits and post-harvest handling processes through technology In collaboration with Massey University, AVA is looking into development and adoption. This way, they can create value- various anti-browning methods to prolong the shelf-life of added and safe food products with cost-effective operations. In fresh-cut fruits, as well as developing charts to aid the visual addition, AVA introduces best practices to address gaps in food assessment of cut fruits’ quality. The shelf-life extension of safety from production to distribution. freshly cut fruits using polysaccharide as a coating material was studied. Preliminary results showed that under storage temperature of two to five degree Celsius, the application of R&D Projects edible polysaccharide coatings (e.g. calcium chloride-sodium AVA assists food manufacturers in developing new food alginate coating), helped to reduce moisture loss and inhibit products and processes from raw materials or by-products enzymatic browning in cut apples, by approximately four such as, fish and vegetable trimmings. We embark on days. Further trials will be conducted to determine efficacy of collaborative applied research and promote the adoption of alternative anti-browning agents for fresh-cut fruits to enjoy a new technologies for value added food production and food longer shelf-life and more attractive appearance. waste reduction by manufacturers. Research in Food Nanotechnology Okara-incorporated Products Nanotechnology is increasingly being applied in the food Substantial amounts (at least 10 tonnes) of okara, a by-product processing and packaging industries, especially because of local soybean products manufacturers are generated daily. nano-materials, with their excellently light and moisture or In April 2011, AVA initiated research collaborations with oxygen barrier properties, can enhance product shelf-life and Massey University to develop okara-incorporated products. reduce food wastage due to spoilage. The six-month research project resulted in the formulation of an okara-incorporated snack. Subsequent research Collaborating with A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research collaboration with Massey University in early 2012 looked into and Engineering (IMRE), AVA embarked on the development the development of pseudo-meat products, which could bring of enhanced food packaging using polymer nano-composites commercial benefits to manufacturers of soybean products, in FY 2011. In addition, AVA is also working with the who are now able to transform their nutrients-rich soybean Environmental and Water Technology Centre of Innovation wastes into valued food products. at NP to develop cost-effective and intelligent sensors from biodegradable nano-fibres that can help to monitor food quality and reduce food wastage. Ready-to-Eat Bottled Mussel Sauce Following the successful conversion of previously discarded Novel nano-food products or nano-enabled food packaging mussel broth into mussel sauce, the bottled mussel sauce was that incorporate nano-materials must pass food safety tests subjected to a one-year shelf life study and proved to be shelf to ensure that they have no negative impacts on human health stable. or the environment. Thus, AVA will embark on research in nano-food safety in collaboration with research institutes such Sensory evaluation was carried out with the application of the as NYP and Singapore University of Technology and Design. mussel sauce in various Chinese dishes. AVA , in collaboration Through this, we also aim to spur the development rate of with NYP, will continue to conduct more sensory tests in nano-enabled food packaging in Singapore. collaboration with industry players to ascertain market receptiveness to this product. Environmental-friendly Sanitizer for Harvested Fresh Sprouts In FY 2011, AVA collaborated with NUS to source for alternative High Value Freeze-Dried Products types of sanitizers that are more effective and environmentally There is a growing trend in the food industry to develop dried friendly than the commonly used chlorine-based sanitizer food products, in response to an increasing consumer demand for fresh sprouts. The first phase of the research, started in for convenience food. Products prepared via the freeze-drying August 2011, looked into the effectiveness of Peroxyacetic method offer better appearance, taste, texture and higher acid (PAA) and chlorine on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria nutritive value, as compared to products dried via high heat- monocyotgenes, Salmonella spp. and natural microflora on induced evaporation. bean sprouts.

64 looking after you | agrotechnology Technical Assistance and Services • Improving Efficiency of Post-Harvest Handling AVA also provides extension services to supply chain stakeholders, such as local growers, processors, traders, and In another programme from 29 August to 2 September 2011, retailers. These services include consultancy, training, and AVA invited two experts – Dr Andrew East and Dr Richard audit services in the areas of product development, post- John Love – from Massey University to share their expertise harvest handling techniques, cold chain management, food on green and effective refrigeration systems for the fruit and quality testing/assessment and preservation, and food safety vegetable supply chain. The four-day programme from 29 assurance/management. August to 2 September 2011 included a seminar, a workshop and visits to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, as well as cold chain facilities of various importers, food logistics and Vegetable Industry distribution companies. Participants were offered insights • Technical Reference for the Cold Chain Management of to the effective packaging and stacking of horticultural Vegetables produce in cold rooms to optimise cold air circulation, and learned how to improve the structure, functionality, AVA, SPRING Singapore, and the industry jointly developed and management of cold stores in order to minimise the Technical Reference for the Cold Chain Management condensation and unnecessary energy loss. A brochure, on of Vegetables (also known as TR-24). The TR-24 aims the recommendations on effective refrigeration systems to establish a quality assurance system and provide for the fruit and vegetable supply chain, was also published benchmarks for managing temperature and relative and distributed to the local stakeholders. humidity profiles in the vegetables cold chain. AVA co- chairs the Working Group on the development of the TR- To facilitate the local fresh produce industry’s efforts to 24 with the Chairman Singapore Fruits and Vegetables upgrade its processes, AVA began developing a handbook Importer/Exporter Association. on efficient post-harvest handling of Asian leafy vegetables along the supply chain. The handbook will complement With approximately $1 million of funding from SPRING the TR-24 cold chain standard for vegetables by guiding Singapore, a pilot trial was conducted for key vegetable the supply chain stakeholders to implement best practices farms and supply chains (known as chain masters), to test for maintaining high quality vegetables. The handbook is and develop the technical guidelines for the Singapore expected to be completed before FY 2013. standard for cold chain management of vegetables. The funds supported the upgrading of cold chain facilities, In FY 2011, AVA also conducted a market survey on the way such as cold trucks, cold stores, vacuum coolers, infra- leafy vegetables were handled by farmers after harvest. red thermometers, and data loggers. Chain masters also The survey findings were useful in helping us to identify made use of the funds to train their staff on cold chain the areas for improvement and provide recommendations management of vegetables. to upgrade industry practices. Following this, AVA will be conducting experimental trials that would optimise post- In FY 2011, AVA, SPRING and Singapore Polytechnic co- harvest packaging processes in FY 2012. organised four training courses in July and November 2011, as part of the effort to facilitate the implementation of the TR-24 cold chain standard for vegetables. The training courses comprised lectures on optimal temperature management in ensuring safe and quality vegetables.

The pilot trial concluded in FY 2011 with a final audit of the participating chain masters led by Singapore Manufacturer’s Association and the principal consultant – Singapore Polytechnic’s Food Innovation and Resource Centre. The Working Group will convene to review the recommendations resulting from this trial, and publish the Singapore Standard for Cold Chain Management of Vegetables.

The effective packaging and stacking of horticultural produce in cold rooms helps to optimise cold air circulation.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 65 • Support for the Fresh-Cut Processing Industry AVA continued to support processors of the surimi-based products through our expert engagement programme. On AVA and NYP commenced on research work to jointly 14-16 February 2012, AVA organised a three-day seminar establish the “Industry Guideline on Fresh-Cut Processing on novel fish product development and technology. Mr of Iceberg Lettuce”, to support the upgrading of fresh- Tatsuru Fujiwara, a Japanese expert on the development cut processors. In FY 2011, processing trials for fresh- of fishery products, spoke on the current and future trends cut iceberg lettuce were completed, and the guideline is of surimi-based products and processing methods in expected to be released in FY 2012. Japan and the region. He also recommended the use of novel ingredients that offer greater complexity in taste To help our food industry meet increasing consumer demand for product development. The seminar was attended by for fresh cuts, AVA conducted an Expert Engagement 42 fish processors, importers and exporters, retailers, Programme on Safe, Innovative and Sustainable Fresh-Cut ingredients suppliers, members from the Food Standards Processing for local fruits and vegetables companies from committee and tertiary institutes. 10 to 16 May 2011. During the three-day programme, Dr Robert Premier, a fresh-cut expert from Australia, visited In addition, Mr Tatsuru visited five fish surimi-based local fresh-cut processing plants and supermarkets to offer product processing plants to review their production on-site practical recommendations on how to improve the processes, and advised that adding value to products is a work processes and processing protocols to ensure safe better way to remain profitable than cutting costs. and quality fresh cuts production. AVA also organised an industry seminar in which Dr Premier shared with local fruits and vegetables industry members the latest innovative fresh-cut processing technologies and practices, while AVA covered Singapore’s regulations on fresh-cut products. This programme attracted 70 participants from the industry and academic institutions.

In addition, AVA also collaborated with an industry stakeholder to develop the processing protocols on mixed salad, with the aim to enhance the quality and safety of fresh-cuts produced by local small operators.

• Audit Services Mr Tatsuru Fujiwara (third from left), accompanied by an officer (right), at AVA provided audit services through its subsidiary, Agrifood a major fish processing plant, where he provided technical advisory on the ways to optimise surimi processing and enhance product innovation. Technologies Pte Ltd (ATP), to verify the integrity of the organic vegetable supply chain from farms to NTUC FairPrice retail stores. We also rendered audit services through ATP to Eu Yan Sang International to verify its Lingzhi herb supplier • Shellfish Test Rig Prototype System for EYSGAP standard, before the EYSGAP certification can be renewed. Most of the live shellfish retailed domestically are either sold in a dry condition that leads to high mortality, or in a marine fish tank that consumes large quantities of water. Fish Industry To overcome these limitations and to enhance the safety In FY 2011, AVA continued to provide consultancy and testing of live seafood at retail, AVA collaborated with NP on a services to the fish processing industry. Services were offered project to design and test-bed a water-efficient Shellfish in the areas of product innovation, safety assurance, quality Test Rig Prototype System. This water-efficient, enclosed preservation, surimi-testing, sensory evaluation, and pilot system aims to simulate an environment conducive for the testing trials on product development. survival of various types of shellfish.

• Surimi-based Products The construction of the prototype was completed in 2011. Following consultation with major retailers and To provide quality assured surimi raw-materials to fish importers in Singapore to understand their needs for ball companies, AVA extended its testing service on gel- retailing live shellfish, such as oysters, mussels, clams and strength and whiteness of surimi. A total of seven surimi cockles, AVA will embark on experimental trials to test- samples were received from two companies during the FY. bed the prototype. This project is expected to lead to the construction of a scaled up water-efficient live shellfish display cabinet for retailers.

66 looking after you | agrotechnology TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND TRANSFER

Besides working with the industry on technology development Farmers in Singapore are challenged by the shortage of local and transfer, AVA also reaches out to the public through and foreign labour from traditional sources and have basic international and community events, as well as learning farming skills and experience. To ease this shortage and journeys to showcase our efforts in harnessing technology to enhance the quality of the foreign workforce, AVA collaborated optimise Singapore’s resources. with Ministry of Manpower and Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to raise manpower productivity. World Orchid Conference 2011 AVA participated in the World Orchid Conference by putting Skills Evaluation Test for Agri-technology Sector up a 100-square metre (sqm) plant and mural display in the AVA and the Institute of Technical Education developed a World Orchid Show segment from 13 to 20 November 2011. series of SETs (Skills Evaluation Tests) to upgrade the farming The mural, highlighting AVA’s role in the development of proficiency of foreign workers, and for AVA to assess farm Singapore’s orchid industry, won us the Best Educational workers and accord certification to those who pass the tests. Display (for 100 sqm booth), a Gold Medal, and a Blue First Foreign workers who pass the SETs would be considered for an Place Ribbon. Our display, which showcased about 1,500 extension of employment period. orchid plants from 200 varieties, reaped 55 awards in the individual orchid competition. AVA also won Gold and Silver In FY 2011, 191 foreign workers passed the SETs. This adds up Medals for our posters on scientific/horticultural research to a total of 306 foreign workers passing the tests since they findings. were first conducted in December 2010. Feedback from the industry has been positive as SETs allows the extension of their foreign workers’ employment period and reduces disruptions NParks CIB Library Talks to their manpower needs. Since 2008, AVA officers have been actively involved in NParks’ CIB Library Talks, giving one-hour talks and sharing our expertise on various horticultural topics. This FY, the topics Facilitating Recruitment of Local Workers through e2i Job Fairs covered include “Orchids 101”, “Growing Leafy Vegetables To help farmers address manpower shortage issues, AVA in Home Garden”, and “Home Vertical Vegetable Growing”. partnered e2i to pilot a career brief cum job fair for the Residents were also introduced to easy-to-assemble home agriculture and fisheries industries in May and September vertical vegetable growing systems which are designed for 2011. AVA and e2i will continue to hold such fairs in FY 2012 limited spaces. to facilitate the recruitment of local workers in the agriculture sector. Learning Journeys AVA hosts students on learning journeys to the MAC and our agrotechnology parks. In the FY, we hosted five learning journeys for 145 students to the MAC, and another seven learning journeys for 600 students to agrotechnology parks.

AVA’s 100-square metre booth showcased about 1,500 orchid plants from 200 varieties, which won us 55 awards in the individual orchid competition.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 67

agri-trade Facilitating Agri-Trade for Food, Plants and Ornamental Fishes

s Singapore’s representative on agricultural, fisheries, Senoko Fishery Port (SFP) is the hub for local fishing vessels. and veterinary matters, AVA continues to facilitate During FY 2011, a total of 2,717 vessel calls were made at SFP A free trade and maintain close ties with the global while 21 AVA-licensed fish merchants handled 9,489 tonnes of community in a spirit of exchange and cooperation. Besides fish from local fishing trawlers, sea-based, and land-based fish facilitating trade, AVA also regulates the import and export of farms, as well as from imports. endangered species.

FACILITATING IMPORTS FACILITATING EXPORTS

Jurong and Senoko Fishery Ports AVA facilitates the export of food, plants, and their products, AVA manages both the Jurong and Senoko Fishery Ports, both as well as ornamental fishes, animals, and animal products, by of which serve as wholesale and distribution centres for fresh issuing internationally recognised certificates, and permits. In and chilled seafood. The top five fish exporting countries to addition, we help further upgrade the export capabilities of our Singapore for FY 2011 were Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, industries by engaging them in collaborations and dialogues. Thailand, and China.

Foreign fishing vessels arriving in Singapore berth at the Food Products Jurong Fishery Port (JFP), which serves as a port of call for In FY 2011, AVA issued 13,623 Export Health Certificates and international fishing vessels and as a seafood distribution hub. Free Sale Certificates to local exporters of food products, During FY 2011, a total of 3,071 vessel calls were made at JFP. including dairy products, as well as imported and locally The 96 AVA-licensed fish merchants at JFP handled 63,074 manufactured meat and fish products. In addition, a total of tonnes of fish landed by fishing vessels, as well as imports via 1,393 Certificates for Freedom from Disease were issued to land and air. Of these, 1,977 tonnes were tuna imports meant facilitate exports of food products. for re-export.

During FY 2011, a total of 2,717 vessel calls were made at the Senoko Fishery Port.

70 looking after you | agri-trade AVA also conducts inspections on local food establishments Plant and Plant Products and samples export consignments to ensure compliance with AVA is the national authority for the phytosanitary certification requirements in Singapore and export destinations. In addition, of plants and plant products for export. We facilitate the we facilitate inspection visits by foreign bodies to local food export of plant products by ensuring that the plant health establishments, and provide advice on how to successfully requirements of importing countries are met. Singapore is a meet the requirements necessary to obtain Veterinary Health signatory to the International Plant Protection Convention Certificates and Export Health Certificates. In FY 2011, AVA (IPPC) and we abide by the international standards set by IPPC conducted 1,657 inspections and collected 4,813 samples for and align our procedures with those standards. export health certification. For veterinary health certification, we conducted 2,203 inspections and collected 1,345 samples. In FY 2011, AVA facilitated about $680 million worth of agri- trade through the issuance of 16,875 phytosanitary certificates. Our phytosanitary certificates were recognised by about 124 Ornamental Fish countries and the top export destinations were Indonesia, In FY 2011, Singapore exported ornamental fishes with an Japan, Australia, China, Malaysia, UK, Germany, East Timor, approximate value of $79.2 million to over 80 countries. The India, and Brunei Darussalam. major countries include the EU member states, the US, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Russia, South Korea, and Australia. There was a AVA also facilitated the certification and movement of orchid decline in export value by approximately 0.25 percent compared plants for the World Orchid Conference held in November 2011. to FY 2010. Some 274 phytosanitary certificates were issued on site for participants and visitors to the conference. AVA regulates and facilitates the ornamental fish trade by issuing import and export permits, as well as health certificates for all live fish exports. In FY 2011, our certificates continued to be accepted internationally, with a total of 10,890 health certificates issued to accompany live fish consignments exported from Singapore to various parts of the world.

AVA worked closely with the ornamental fish industry to develop a new AVA Quality Assurance Scheme (AQUAS) that would replace the existing Accredited Ornamental Fish Exporter Scheme (AOFES). The new AQUAS provides the ornamental fish industry with the flexibility to design quality assurance processes that not only meet the requirements of importing countries, but are also best suited to the operations of each company.

AVA held five rounds of consultative sessions with the ornamental fish industry from January to April 2011, to gather AVA issued 274 phytosanitary certificates to facilitate the movement of feedback on AQUAS, and provide guidance on how to draft the orchid plants for the World Orchid Conference held in November 2011. Quality Assurance manual required for AQUAS application. The AQUAS was opened for application in July 2011. Assurance Certification Scheme In FY 2011, a total of 12 companies were accredited under AVA’s Animals and Animal Products Assurance Certification Scheme (ACS), of which, six were for AVA is the national authority responsible for issuing certificates aquatic plants, four for cut flowers and cut foliages, one for and permits that meet importing countries’ requirements. tobacco, and one for cocoa products. AVA conducted a total of These documents help to facilitate the export of live animals, 33 compliance audits on ACS-accredited exporters to ensure animal feed and animal products. In FY 2011, a total of 1,563 that standards were upheld for the export of aquarium plants, veterinary health certificates, 2,418 export permits, and 1,393 cut flowers, foliages, and plants that require phytosanitary certificates for freedom from disease were issued. A total certification. of 310 free sale certificates were also issued to facilitate the export of animal feed and products, such as birds’ nest. In March 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry New Zealand accepted Singapore’s proposal to allow the import of cut flowers from producers and exporters under the ACS. As a result, cut flowers and foliages exported to New Zealand under the scheme no longer require mandatory on-arrival fumigation.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 71 Pest Control Agency Accreditation Scheme AVA’s Pest Control Agency Accreditation Scheme accredits pest control agencies that possess proven technical expertise ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS and proper facilities to perform phytosanitary treatment and to certify wood packaging materials used for international trade. During the year, a total of 30 heat treatment providers and 23 AVA works closely with our stakeholders to facilitate agri- fumigation companies were accredited under this scheme. A trade. We engage and collaborate with our industries through total of 65 audits were conducted during the FY. Business Cluster activities and dialogue sessions.

AQIS-Australia visited Singapore on 29-30 November 2011 to study the current fumigation practice in Singapore and provide Ornamental Fish Business Cluster an update on recent developments of the Australian Fumigation Initiated by AVA in 2003, the Ornamental Fish Business Cluster Accreditation Scheme. AVA also initiated a trial with AQIS- (OFBC) has been instrumental in addressing the challenges and Australia to gather data on methyl bromide concentrations charting new directions for the industry, as well as in raising the for fumigation performed on un-sheeted/unpressured tested international profile of Singapore’s ornamental fish industry. containers. Three fumigation companies were selected to With key representation from industry associations, exporters, perform the trial, which will take place in April 2012. breeders and associated companies, the OFBC will continue to reinforce Singapore’s position as an Ornamental Fish Hub.

Treatment Provider Scheme AVA conducted a dialogue session with Singapore Aquarium To provide standard operational procedures for treatment Fishes Exporters’ Association (SAFEA) on 27 October 2011, providers who perform methyl bromide fumigation and heat with participation from the Singapore Tropical Aquarium Fish treatment operation on plant and plants products, AVA reviewed Breeders’ Association (STAFBA). During the dialogue, AVA the Accredited Pest Control Agency Scheme (APCA) during the reiterated its commitment to work closely with the industry FY. The APCA will be replaced by a new Treatment Provider through both associations and OFBC to explore new areas of Scheme (TPS) on 1 May 2012, with the following improvements: cooperation to improve processes. The industry was also urged to enhance its productivity to remain resilient and competitive. • More specific and detailed categorisation of non- compliance and its corresponding sanctions AVA also engaged industry players outside of the OFBC. Four • A format of documents/forms that facilitates better record dialogue sessions with SAFEA, and licensed ornamental fish keeping and ease of traceability. importers and exporters, were conducted between April 2011 • Specifications of non-compliances leading to suspension or and March 2012 to address regulation and trade issues. termination.

A dialogue with the APCA members was held on 12 March Aquarama 2011 2012 to introduce the TPS and inform them of the changes in The 12th Aquarama, an international trade show for the the new scheme. ornamental fish industry, attracted the participation of more than 120 companies and agencies from 23 countries. Held in May 2011, the event was opened by Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development & Defence.

(Front row, 4th from left to right:) Ms Tan Poh Hong, CEO of AVA; Mr Chris Eve, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd (organiser of Aquarama); and guest-of-honour Dr Mohamad Maliki, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development & Defence at Aquarama 2011.

72 looking after you | agri-trade AVA set up a booth to showcase recent developments, which included an experimental multi-tiered vertical farming system for ornamental fish culture. Coupled with the latest water re- TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES use and treatment technology, the system aims to increase productivity to more than four times that of traditional farming methods. AVA is the national authority for the implementation and enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Orchid Business Cluster agreement, which aims to prevent over-exploitation of With representatives from the various key floral associations endangered animals and plants. and the IE Singapore, the Orchid Business Cluster (OBC) was established in May 2003 to strengthen Singapore’s In FY 2011, AVA issued a total of 10,680 CITES permits and position as a renowned exporter of tropical orchids and help certificates to regulate wildlife trade, which comprised mainly the industry remain relevant and adaptable. During the year, of reptile skins, Asian arowanas, and pet birds. AVA also the OBC held fruitful dialogues, and participated in overseas facilitated the commercial re-export of wildlife not categorised visits and exhibitions to seek trade opportunities and increase under CITES, through the issuance of 444 ‘B’ certificates/ international exposure. statements. In March 2012, AVA implemented a watermark system for CITES permits and certificates, as a security measure to prevent fraudulent use of CITES documents.

During the FY, AVA investigated a total of 42 cases, which included illegal import and sale of alleged tiger products, chameleon, Asian arowanas, and Hoodia products. In one of these cases, a man was prosecuted in court and fined $5,200 for keeping and attempting to sell hedgehogs as pets on the Internet. Twenty-four cases were issued with composition fines, and 17 cases were issued with warnings or advisories.

Imported Dragon Fishes for Local Retail AVA works closely with the industry to co-create pro-business solutions and improve trade facilitation.

Previously, a licensee can only import Dragon fishes for re- export purposes. The only exception was given to licensed importer who has a breeding farm registered with CITES to breed the Dragon fishes in captivity for commercial purpose.

In response to feedback from the SAFEA, AVA reviewed the import conditions with effect from 4 April 2011. AVA allowed licensed ornamental fishes importers to import Dragon fishes (or Asian Arowana) for local retail sale, in addition to re- export. Subsequently, AVA also discontinued the registration The Orchid Business Cluster strengthens Singapore’s position as a renowned of Dragon fish retail outlets, and allowed the sale of Dragon exporter of tropical orchids and help the industry remain relevant and adaptable. fish in all local licensed aquarium fish shops from 16 January 2012. Notwithstanding these changes, licensed importers must continue to adhere to the conditions for the import of Dragon fish to Singapore. The OBC stayed active and enthusiastic in developing the orchid industry and export market. Two sub-committees were set up to look into the research and breeding of new hybrids, as well as the promotion of local orchids in the domestic market through outreach programmes.

Following the OBC’s visit to the Guangzhou Knowledge City (KC) last FY, participants expressed interest to set up production bases and develop a Singapore orchid and ornamental industry within the KC. As such, AVA facilitated meetings between IE Singapore, SingBridge and keen members of the orchid industry to address cost and land lease issues.

With effect from 4 April 2011, all imported dragon fishes were allowed for local retail sale, as well as re-export (with CITES re-export permits).

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 73 g) ASEAN Standard Requirements for Animal Vaccines: Salmonella gallinarum (live and inactivated), as well as INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Avian Influenza vaccine (inactivated) h) ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practices for Shrimp Farming and its Strategic Plan of Action By participating in bilateral, regional and international i) Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for meetings, AVA keeps abreast of the latest developments to the ASEAN Region Towards 2020, and Plan of Action on safeguard Singapore’s interests in food safety, animal and Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN plant health standards, and agri-trade. Region Towards 2020 j) Concept Note of the ASEAN-European Union Technical Cooperation in Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Bilateral Meetings Analysis k) Proposal for Post 2nd Phase of the ASEAN Food Security 4th Singapore-Indonesia Agribusiness Working Group Meeting Information System (AFSIS) Project On 1-2 December 2011, AVA hosted the 4th Singapore- Indonesia Agribusiness Working Group Meeting in Singapore. To facilitate and track the import and export of agri-produce 1st ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry between Singapore and Indonesia, the working group finalised Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Senior Parliamentary Secretary the action plans, timelines, and key performance indicators. for Defence, and National Development and Ms Tan Poh Hong, CEO of AVA attended the 1st ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, which was held on 8 October 2011 ASEAN and International Collaborations in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the 33rd AMAF and In FY 2011, AVA continued to participate actively in ASEAN related Meetings. meetings and projects, as well as other international forums. AVA officers attended the international meetings to discuss The Meeting considered and adopted the Joint Statement cooperation in areas such as food security, food safety, fisheries, to enhance cooperation in agriculture and forestry between livestock, crops, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. ASEAN and India, with a view to:

l) Meet the challenges of food security 33rd Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Agriculture and m) Exchange information and technology Forestry (AMAF) and 11th Meeting of the AMAF+3 n) Create farmers awareness and interaction cooperating on On 6-7 October 2011, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Senior research and development projects Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development, o) Encourage agriculture and forestry-related industries accompanied by Ms Tan Poh Hong, Chief Executive Officer p) Strengthen human resources development (CEO) of AVA, led a five-member delegation to attend the 33rd Meeting of the AMAF and 11th Meeting of the AMAF+3 held in The Ministers also adopted the Medium Term Plan of Action Jakarta, Indonesia. for ASEAN India Cooperation in Agriculture (2011-2015) and endorsed the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN-India Working Significant developments at the Meetings included the signing Group on Agriculture and Forestry. of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding between the ASEAN and the World Organisation for Animal Health on the ASEAN 1st ASEAN- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Working Group on Regional Animal Health Information System. The finalisation of Food Security and Agricultural Investment these documents would contribute towards food security and AVA attended the 1st ASEAN-GCC Working Group on Food help to manage/eliminate animal diseases in the region. Security and Agricultural Investment on 3-4 May 2011 in Doha, State of Qatar. The Meeting agreed to focus cooperation The Meeting also considered and endorsed the following: on three main areas, namely, food security, agricultural investment, as well as legislation and regulatory framework a) List of proposed eight Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for agricultural investment. for the five pesticides b) ASEAN Standards for Okra, Cashew Kernels, Sweet Pepper, Onion, Chilli Peppers 2nd Meeting of the Experts Working Group on ASEAN Good c) Intra-ASEAN Phytosanitary Guidelines for Importation of Agricultural Practices (EWG – ASEAN GAP) Potato-tuber for consumption AVA successfully hosted the 2nd EWG – ASEAN GAP meeting d) ASEAN Bio-Security Manual for Commercial Poultry Farming held from 18 to 20 May 2011 in Singapore. A total of 17 ASEAN e) ASEAN Criteria for Accreditation of Establishments for delegates from all ASEAN member countries except Myanmar Manufacturing Meat Products in Hermetically-Sealed attended the meeting. A field trip to a GAP-certified farm was Containers also organised to share the progress of implementing the GAP f) Terms of Reference of the Preparatory Committee for the system in Singapore. Regional Coordination Mechanism on Animal Health and Zoonoses

74 looking after you | agri-trade Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD) Programme / Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) AVA, as a collaborating centre of SEAFDEC, promotes the DISTINGUISHED VISITORS post-harvest technology development of fisheries in Southeast Asia, by implementing activities under the SEAFDEC’s MFRD programme. These activities include the transfer of post- AVA is trusted and respected globally as a competent authority harvest technology and best practices to the fish processing which ensures safe food, healthy animals and plants. Over industry in the region. the FY, AVA received several foreign dignitaries and overseas officials for discussions and explorations on collaborative work. Many came to learn about our regulatory control, Technical Panel on Post Harvest and Safety of Fish and functions, as well as to tour our facilities and centres. Fisheries Products On 14 June 2011, AVA and MFRD co-organised and conducted April 2011 a technical panel themed “Post Harvest and Safety of Fish and The Japanese Ambassador to Singapore visited AVA to discuss Fisheries Products” during the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference the issue of safe food supply to Singapore in view of the on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020: Fish Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident. for the People 2020, held in Bangkok, Thailand. May 2011 AVA hosted Singapore’s Ambassador to Vientiane to a ASEAN Training Course on Utilisation of Freshwater Fish meeting and shared information on Singapore’s food imports for Value-Added Products and collaborations with Lao PDR. As part of the SEAFDEC-MFRD programme, AVA and MFRD co-organised a Regional Training Course on the “Utilisation June 2011 of Freshwater Fish for Value-Added Products” in Singapore The Australian High Commissioner visited AVA to learn on 18-21 October 2011. A total of 14 participants from five from Singapore’s experience in the handling and slaughter of ASEAN member countries (Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, livestock, as well as to discuss fisheries issues. Myanmar, and Vietnam) attended the training course which included both lectures and hand-on practical sessions. The July 2011 course topics covered the processing of freshwater fish into The Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, visited AVA value-added products, the importance of Good Manufacturing to introduce fruits (peaches, grapes, prunes) and wine from Practices, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point systems, the Yamanashi Prefecture, as well as explore opportunities for and product shelf life tests. agri-food trade.

October 2011 1st On-site Training Workshop in Traceability Systems for The Italian Trade Commissioner paid a courtesy call on Aquaculture Products AVA’s CEO and discussed issues on agri-food trade between Under the SEAFDEC-MFRD Programme Trust Fund (V), AVA Singapore and Italy. and MFRD co-organised and conducted the 1st On-site Training Workshop in Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products, in November 2011 collaboration with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural To strengthen existing trading ties, the Governor of Shiga Development (MARD). Prefecture, Japan, visited AVA and discussed the current status of beef exports from Shiga Prefecture to Singapore. Held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 28 to 30 November 2011, the workshop included lectures, a visit to a local catfish December 2011 farm and processing factory, and discussions on the challenges The Indonesian National Agency of Drug and Food Control visited and recommendations for the implementation of traceability AVA to learn more about Singapore’s knowledge, experience, and system for aquaculture products. The workshop was attended best practices in formulating laws on food control. The Indonesian by 23 participants from all ASEAN member countries. delegation also toured the facilities at AVA’s Veterinary Public Health Laboratory to understand its operations.

Progress of Biotoxin Survey January 2012 Under the MFRD Biotoxin Monitoring project, nine ASEAN AVA hosted Singapore’s Ambassador to Thailand to a meeting member countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao DPR, Myanmar, and shared AVA’s on-going collaboration and interests with Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore) Thailand in terms of enhancing food supply resilience. commenced a one-year Biotoxin survey and submitted half- yearly progress reports to MFRD in 2011. The survey covered February 2012 the monitoring of the biotoxin Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Singapore’s Ambassador to Beijing visited AVA to learn about (PSP), with Myanmar and Singapore expanding their scope to AVA’s bilateral projects with China. include Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning as well. As at the end of FY 2011, species surveyed A delegation from the Riau Islands (Kepri) House of for PSP have yielded negative results. Most participating Representatives visited AVA to discuss the issues of developing member countries have completed the surveys, except for vegetable and fish farming in Kepri. Cambodia and Lao DPR, who will be completing the survey in the second quarter of 2012. Chairman of Singbridge Holdings Pte Ltd and Chairman of Keppel Corporation Ltd visited AVA to learn about AVA’s Jilin Food Zone project.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 75

organisational excellence Excellence in Our People and Organisation

VA strives to be a people-centred organisation because Programmes such as “Preparing Policy Papers and Conveying our staff is our most valuable asset. We are fully Changes”, “Appreciating the Evolving Social Media Landscape”, Acommitted to developing our staff and endeavour to and “Writing Back” workshops, were also sponsored by AVA to help our staff find fulfilment in their work. We believe that a strengthen the core competency levels of our staff. motivated workforce is key to the continued well-being and good performance of the organisation. At the same time, In an effort to build up and sustain a pool of professional we empower our people with technology so that they are expertise, AVA also increased the number of scholarship equipped to find innovative ways to improve their efficiency awards and disciplines of study offered in FY 2011. A total of and effectiveness. These set us on the path towards being a five undergraduate scholarships were awarded in disciplines progressive and professional organisation. such as Economics, Food Science & Technology, Life Sciences, Science (Microbiology) and Veterinary Science.

PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

AVA firmly believes in developing each staff member to reach his or her fullest potential so that he or she is not only In anticipation of the increasingly complex and challenging equipped to fulfill their job duties, but also contribute to the working environment, there is a need for our officers to build society. During the FY, we continued to engage the hearts and new capabilities that can help AVA to stay ahead and remain minds of our staff to develop them both on the professional effective. and personal fronts. In this FY, AVA adopted the AIM (Analytical and intellectual In FY 2011, we achieved an average of 14.1 learning days per capacity, Influence and collaboration, and Motivation for staff. Officers were trained through a variety of training excellence) Model for its performance management system, platforms such as external courses as well as local and as well as the open appraisal methodology for our officers in overseas conferences. the management executive scheme. Both systems enhance transparency and engagement between staff and supervisor. During the FY, AVA introduced the Professional Development Framework to further augment and strengthen our Comprehensive training was provided to staff to help them professional capabilities and ensure that we stay abreast familiarise themselves with the new performance appraisal of emerging trends and technology. The comprehensive system. This new performance management framework is developmental opportunities under this framework included structured to clearly bring out and tie in with our shared ethos, attachments and exchange programmes to facilities of our values and behaviours. Thus, both staff and the organisation overseas counterparts and the private industry, as well as on the whole will be better empowered to take on future leadership programmes, post-graduate studies, sabbaticals, challenges. involvement in external projects, and collaborations with institutions. In addition, AVA organised in-house workshops on risk assessment and epidemiology for our staff. PEOPLE MANAGEMENT During the FY, AVA sponsored officers for the following programmes:

• Attachment to SATS Ltd in China (Jilin Food Zone) To ensure that we continue to attract talent and reach out to • Sabbatical Programme at Food Valley in the Netherlands potential job-seekers, AVA accelerated its branding and outreach • Leaders in Urban Governance Programme efforts through various channels, such as career magazines • Governance and Leadership Programme and career fairs in university campuses. These helped us to • Firefly Leadership Development Programme promote our varied career opportunities, comprehensive career • Advanced Management Programme development, as well as training framework.

In the FY, AVA also revised our remuneration packages for new and in-serving staff to enable us to remain competitive in the bid to attract and retain talent.

78 looking after you | organisational excellence Awards and Recognition A total of 61 staff members were promoted in FY 2011 in recognition of their excellent performance and potential to contribute at higher levels.

In addition, 10 National Day Awards were bestowed on AVA staff in recognition of their exemplary performance and past service. These comprised one Bronze Public Administration Medal, two Commendation Medals, two Efficiency Medals and five Long Service Medals.

A total of 114 staff members were also presented with AVA Long Service Awards in recognition of their contribution and dedication to the organisation. AVA contributed an annual grant of $6,000 to the Union.

Staff Well-being and Engagement In continuing to help our staff better manage work Staff Engagement and Feedback responsibilities alongside their personal and family needs, To nurture a fruitful employer-employee relationship, it and to build a workforce that is well-rounded and resilient, is important to engage our staff. AVA encouraged staff to AVA implemented the following work-life harmony measures stay connected with senior management through various during the FY: communication platforms such as staff dialogues, CEO walkabouts, and luncheons with senior management. News • Up to two days of parent-care leave per year for officers to blitzes in the form of the NewsREAL e-Newsletter were take care of their elderly parents or parents-in-law. disseminated periodically to keep staff updated of officers’ • Telecommuting scheme for officers who need to be at achievements. home to care for children or parents. • Up to two days time-off per year for community involvement to foster greater volunteerism amongst staff. • Corporate memberships providing free admissions to ORGANISATIONAL AND selected places of interest, as an additional encouragement for staff to spend more time with their family. SERVICE EXCELLENCE

AVA also promoted staff well-being through other new initiatives. New work-life initiatives were introduced to In AVA’s journey towards organisational and service encourage healthy living and work-life harmony. These excellence, emphasis is placed on continuous improvements included weekly time-off for exercise, “Blue Sky Fridays”, and to our processes, policies, and systems. We encourage every corporate memberships to selected places of interest. staff to embrace innovation, teamwork, and collaboration so that we can better serve our stakeholders. Labour-Relations Management To further enhance staff well-being, AVA continued to partner Teamwork and Innovation the Union in improving the welfare of AVA union members. At AVA, we empower our staff to increase the effectiveness In addition to contributing an annual grant of $6,000 to the and efficiency of the organisation by leveraging on teamwork, Union, AVA and the Union jointly introduced the AVA Bursary streamlining workflow, and seeking innovative and practical Award for children of eligible AVA staff. The quantum of the solutions to work challenges. bursary is $800 and $2,500 per year for those pursuing their education in polytechnics and universities, respectively. On 8 August 2011, AVA’s interdisciplinary team received the MND Minister’s (Team) Award 2011 for its performance AVA management also engages the Union regularly on staff in handling the radiation threat from Japan. In response to matters, through various platforms such as quarterly meetings the tsunami that struck Fukushima, Japan on 11 March 2011, and social events. In recognition of our efforts in working with AVA officers worked tirelessly to ensure that food imported the Union towards creating a more inclusive workforce, we from Japan was free from radioactive contamination. AVA received the NTUC 50 Model Partnership Awards (Institutional adopted a whole-of-government approach to provide timely Category) as part of the 2011 May Day celebrations. updates and advisories to the public and actively engaged other stakeholders. All these efforts helped to minimise trade disruptions while ensuring food safety in Singapore.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 79 Our staff continued to participate actively and contribute useful ideas and solutions through the AVA STAR (Striving and Aiming for Excellence through Teamwork) and TWINKLE (Tapping Wild and Innovative Ideas for Knowledge, Learning and Exchange) Schemes. A total of 1,771 ideas were contributed by staff and 41 STAR projects were completed. On average, each staff contributed about two TWINKLE ideas in FY 2011.

Five of AVA’s STAR projects received Silver awards at the National Innovation and Quality Circle assessment, held at the 2011 Team Symposium. One of the teams also showcased its project at the PS21 ExCEL Convention 2011 Exhibition, which was held in November 2011.

Organisational Excellence AVA was awarded the Singapore Quality Class (SQC) Star by SPRING Singapore in FY 2011. Our certifications for the People Team building games during the launch of the Organisational Excellence Developer and the Innovation Class were also successfully (OE) Week from 16 to 20 May 2011 inculcated a culture of innovation, learning and sharing. renewed in January 2012 with improved scores after the integrated assessment was conducted in October 2011.

The achievement of the SQC Star, which recognises Service Excellence organisations that have attained greater heights on the AVA takes on a customer-centric perspective and adopts a business excellence journey, is a significant milestone in AVA’s facilitator-developer approach to develop its services. excellence journey. It affirmed our progress in transforming AVA to achieve organisational excellence. In FY 2011, 13 agency-wide dialogue sessions were held with industry players as part of AVA’s efforts to provide a In August 2011, AVA’s food safety and biosecurity pro-business environment for our stakeholders, engage key programmes were reviewed and endorsed as of a “world industry players to better understand their concerns, and work class standard” by the International Advisory Committee on areas of mutual interest. Another five dialogue sessions of Experts (IACE) – comprising international experts in the were held with government agencies and non-governmental fields of veterinary epidemiology, food safety and hygiene, organisations. biosecurity, phytosanitary and plant pathology. AVA was also commended for the developments and progress made These sessions led to the formation of joint taskforces between in its programmes since the last review in 2008. The IACE AVA, the industry and non-governmental organisations, to provided valuable feedback and advice on strengthening AVA’s study the feedback and suggestions received. Our taskforces approaches in a range of programmes, such as food sourcing have achieved tangible results so far, including winning Pro- and diversification, horizon scanning and early alert, and Enterprise Idea Awards. professional development. AVA officers also continued to do the organisation proud by To inculcate a culture of innovation, learning and sharing, AVA receiving service awards at the national level. One officer organised an Organisational Excellence (OE) Week from 16 received the PS21 Service Award at the 2011 PS21 Star Service to 20 May 2011. The week-long event, themed “Be Different Award Ceremony. Four staff also achieved the national 2011 - Look, Think, Feel, Do”, showcased and celebrated the good Excellent Service Awards. work done by AVA officers.

Over 320 officers participated in the OE Week activities, Pro-Enterprise Idea Awards which included the launch (held alongside the Public Service AVA submitted a total of seven entries to the Pro-Enterprise (PS) Observance Ceremony), the AVA Awards Ceremony, Panel (PEP), which assesses government agencies’ suggestions Learning Journeys, workshops, and the Finale. To embody to make changes in rules and processes that benefit businesses the spirit of “Leadership with a Heart”, the AVA Leadership by reducing compliance cost. Four of them won the Quarterly Team took their place behind the buffet line and served food Pro-Enterprise Idea Award. to staff. AVA Leadership Team also sponsored cookies and apples for sale at the Charity Booth to raise funds for AVA’s One of the Quarterly Pro-Enterprise Idea Award was given adopted charity, Kampung Senang Charity and Education to AVA for its proposal to allow non-targeted consignments Foundation (KSCEF). to be delivered to customers and retailers directly, without comprising food safety. This enhancement to AVA’s inspection process minimises the time taken for produce to reach retail shelves and ensures the freshness and quality of imported produce. The Pro-Enterprise Idea was proposed by the taskforce comprising representatives of AVA and the fruit and vegetable industry, and was implemented in August 2011.

80 looking after you | organisational excellence Another Quarterly Pro-Enterprise Idea Award recognised During the FY, AVA embarked on the development of AVA’s review on the submission frequency of laboratory a Customer Relations Management System, as well as reports for infant formula. As a result of this review, importers enhancement of the AVA website. In addition, the development of infant formula now need to only submit a report biannually, of an AVA Call Centre is also in progress, with an aim to instead of annually. This brings about savings of up to 94 ensure timely and adequate management of all enquiries and percent on laboratory tests for importers. feedback received.

Of the four Quarterly Pro-Enterprise Idea Awards, one also garnered the overall Annual Best Pro-Enterprise Idea Award LEVERAGING ON INFORMATION (Bronze) for the proposed system that automatically approves certain meat products from selected countries for import COMMUNICATIONS into Singapore. Implemented on 1 October 2011, the time- TECHNOLOGY saving process facilitates cargo clearance even on weekends and public holidays. Traders can now receive the necessary permits faster online, and no longer have to wait for import permits to be approved manually by AVA. This new system AVA harnesses Information Communications Technology benefits more than half of all importers in Singapore, who can (ICT) to support our mission and corporate objectives. We save a considerable amount of time and money. It also allows develop ICT systems to improve our operational efficiency and AVA to reallocate its resources more effectively to focus on service delivery to our customers. more value-added services.

Improving Public e-Services and Internal Communication AVA constantly reviews and enhances our e-services, and develops new ones to make them more user-friendly for our customers.

A new e-service for the online registration of food storage warehouse was implemented in November 2011. This was part of the move by AVA to further improve food crisis management and enhance food security.

We also enhanced our dog licensing e-service. Dog owners no longer need to fill in their particulars when applying for a dog licence online, as these will be automatically filled in the AVA won the overall Annual Best Pro-Enterprise Idea Award (Bronze) for the application form. The need to provide supporting documents proposed system that automatically approves certain meat products from selected countries for import into Singapore. has also been removed. Similarly, we have enhanced our e-service for the application of laboratory tests arising from customers’ feedback. Customers will benefit from the enhancements from the second quarter of FY 2012. Initiatives to Enhance Customer Service During the FY, various initiatives to enhance our service In an effort to provide greater convenience to customers, AVA delivery and inculcate a customer-oriented culture in AVA provided them with the option to make payment for all AVA were implemented. services at more than 790 AXS stations island-wide, by end October 2011. The revised Reward and Recognition programme was launched in April 2011 to provide staff with greater and more frequent incentives for good customer service. A total of 87 officers were awarded with Monthly Service Awards, nine officers were given the Quarterly Service Awards, and three officers received AVA’s Annual Distinguished Service Award.

Over 160 officers attended the two Quality Service Manager (QSM) tea sessions, which were conducted as a platform to recognise our Quarterly Service Awards recipients in the FY, and for frontline officers to share and discuss areas for improvements.

In addition, more than 270 officers underwent service-related training that were mapped to the nature and level of their work and their training needs, in FY 2011. To provide greater convenience to customers, AVA partnered AXS Pte Ltd to Based on AVA’s Corporate Values and Service Values of provide the option to make payment for all AVA services at over 790 AXS Courtesy, Accessibility, Responsiveness and Effectiveness stations island-wide, on any day, and at any time. (CARE), a Service Pledge and service handbook were developed for all staff. The handbook provides AVA officers with best practices in delivering quality customer service and serves as a reminder of AVA’s Service Values and service standards.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 81 AVA introduced the e-GIRO statements initiative in October 2011 to provide our customers with the option of receiving their monthly GIRO statements electronically. With e-GIRO statements, customers will be able to receive their statements earlier, i.e. within three working days from the last GIRO deduction as compared to the one week required to receive hardcopy statements. In addition, this environmentally friendly initiative can help to reduce paper consumption.

To improve the public’s accessibility to important updates on AVA’s corporate website, we incorporated the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds function on selected frequently visited web pages. With RSS, customers who wish to be automatically and immediately alerted to updates can subscribe to the RSS for free.

Moving forward, AVA’s participation in the Whole-of- Government business licensing system, FRONTIER An ICT Seminar was held on 18 November 2011 to raise our staff’s awareness (Facilitating Reforms for Innovation and Enterprise), will on new technologies, and ICT initiatives and security. create opportunities for us to initiate licensing reforms and improve service delivery to businesses. The Desktop Security Service (DSS) is an important service The AVA Intranet is a key platform for internal communication. under the Government Standard Operating Environment Work is in progress to revamp our Intranet to enhance (SOE) programme that protects the end-point devices such as communication and information sharing amongst staff. SOE laptops and desktops against prevalent security threats. During the FY, testing of the DSS was completed for pilot users and this will be rolled out to all AVA staff in early FY 2012. Enhancing ICT Infrastructure Encrypted thumb drives were also issued to staff who need AVA is constantly monitoring and reviewing our ICT to store confidential information on portable devices. This infrastructure to ensure that they continue to meet AVA’s will ensure greater security to protect information stored on operational requirements and are cost effective. portable devices that are prone to being misplaced or lost.

The Local Area Network (LAN) for AVA’s offices was upgraded with new and better equipment in FY 2011. This upgrading helped to ensure greater availability and performance of our PROMOTING HEALTHY LAN service, which is critical to our day-to-day operations. LIFESTYLE AND BUILDING

Physical cables were also laid to digitally connect the office ESPRIT DE CORPS buildings at AVA’s Sembawang Research Station to form a single LAN. By replacing the previous wireless connection with physical cables, we not only improved the network availability and At AVA, we continuously strive to cultivate an inspiring performance, but also reduced the maintenance effort and cost. and nurturing work environment. We value our staff, who make up the heart of AVA. We help our staff to build esprit de corps, to achieve cohesiveness, as well as stay attuned Tightening ICT Security to their environment and physical well-being. At AVA, we As an ongoing effort to improve ICT security in AVA, a review organise a wide range of recreational, health, and family- of our ICT security policy was conducted to ensure that our oriented activities throughout the year. Besides being an security policies, standards, and controls are adequate to opportunity for networking, these activities also promote a safeguard AVA’s ICT environment. In the FY, our ICT systems sense of camaraderie and belonging to AVA. with e-services were enhanced to mitigate any security risks.

An ICT Seminar was held on 18 November 2011 to raise staff Sports awareness on new technologies, and ICT initiatives and We aim to build rapport and cohesiveness within AVA security. As our officers are regularly required to handle through sportsmanship and group recreational activities that important and sensitive information in electronic form, the bring various departments together. A wide variety of sports seminar helped them to understand AVA’s ICT security activities, from games for leisure to competitive tournaments, policy, the common ICT security threats, as well as security are regularly organised to promote staff interaction. measures and best practices that can be undertaken, to safeguard the security and integrity of official data. Sports Trainings and Participation Keen AVA staff members attend badminton sessions every Wednesday and actively participate in competitive sports events. During the FY, their hard work paid off at the MNDRC badminton tournament 2012, in which AVA bagged the first and third places for the Women’s Singles category, as well as second and third place for the Mixed Doubles category.

82 looking after you | organisational excellence Keen AVA staff members attend badminton training every Wednesday at the Ministry of National Development Recreation Club (MNDRC) sports hall.

In addition, AVA has a Dragon Boat Team that trains every AVA introduced a “Sing for Free” initiative by giving out Sunday. The team’s dedication was rewarded during the annual complimentary MNDRC karaoke vouchers each month MNDRC dragon boat race, wherein our AVA dragon boat team from October 2011 to February 2012. With the voucher, staff came in second and third in the Mixed team category and members were entitled to use the MND karaoke room for free. Management team category, respectively. A total of 130 vouchers were given out to officers to bond and interact with their colleagues, friends, and family over their AVA continued to be a key member of the MND Dragon favourite songs. Boat Team, which was active year-round and participated regularly in dragon boat races in Singapore, such as People’s The AVA Annual Dinner & Dance for FY 2011 was held at The Associate Paddle, Singapore Dragon Boat Festival, Austcham Fullerton Hotel on 6 January 2012, with a “Red Carpet” theme. 10km Race and the Jurong Island Dragon Boat Race. The team The event saw record attendance of 544 staff, as well as also participated in Singapore’s largest dragon boat event – guests, AVA board members, and AVA union representatives. the Singapore River Regatta – on 26-27 November 2011 and The crowd enjoyed an evening of fun and laughter, with games clinched the overall silver medal in the public service category. such as “Rock Stars” and “Broadway Dancers”, as well as crowd-pleasers like door gifts, mass games, and lucky draws. The inaugural AVA Interdepartmental Badminton Tournament took place from 12 October to 9 November 2011 with the encouraging participation of 56 officers across all 10 departments in AVA.

During the FY, AVA officers also took part in events such as the 5km Fun Walk at West Coast Park, MNDRC Bowling Competition, Star Games Bowling Competition, MNDRC Cross Country Run, MNDRC-Glimpse of the Singapore-Malayan Railway, Charity Golf, New Balance Real Run, and Standard Chartered Run 2011.

Social With the objective to foster teamwork and staff-bonding, AVA organised a range of social events to allow officers and their family members to interact with each other. During the MND Family Day, AVA staff participated enthusiastically in The AVA Annual Dinner & Dance was well attended by a record number the bowling competition, tele-matches and MND Got Talent of 544 staff, as well as guests, AVA board members, and AVA union Contest. representatives, who played stage games such as “Rock Stars”.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 83 clean-up spanned more than half a kilometre. This event not only helped to improve our marine environment, but also served to enhance the bonds between the staff who participated in the event.

In addition, we also organised hiking and guided trips to MacRitchie Reservoir, Southern Ridges, Bukit Timah Hill, and Sungei Buloh. These activities helped to promote conservation awareness and bonding among AVA staff.

Charity In the FY, AVA led the organisation of charity activities during the MND Family Day held at Downtown East on 9 July 2011. The President’s Challenge was adopted as a platform for the charity drive, and AVA contributed about $4,000 in all. A total of about $48,000 was raised during the entire charity drive, exceeding the $30,000 target set by the MND organising committee. The collection went towards funding the work of 28 charity organisations supported by the President’s A recreation room for AVA’s Veterinary Public Health Centre (VPHC) was Challenge 2011. officially opened on 2 August 2011. AVA’s average employee SHARE participation rate was 60.1 percent in FY 2011. Almost 500 AVA staff continued to support Community Chest’s SHARE programme through regular Healthy Lifestyle monthly contributions. AVA understands that a healthy workforce is a productive one. In FY 2011, we rolled out several new initiatives to encourage As part of our social outreach programme in FY 2011, AVA staff to incorporate exercise into their weekly routines. organised a trip to the Henderson Waves for the residents of AVA’s adopted home, KSCEF, in June 2011. AVA’s senior Besides giving staff an hour’s time-off per week for exercise, management also visited KSCEF in July 2011 for some fun-filled AVA also furnished our offices with gym equipment to make activities with them. exercise more accessible to staff. A recreation room for AVA’s Veterinary Public Health Centre (VPHC) was officially opened In September and November 2011, AVA organised the “AVA on 2 August 2011, accompanied by a mass aerobics session. Charity Pasar Pagi 2011” at AVA Headquarters and Veterinary Weekly kickboxing classes were also organised at VPHC as an Public Health Centre respectively, to raise funds for KSCEF. A added option for staff to utilise their weekly one-hour time-off variety of food and non-food items were on sale during the two for exercise. events. A total of $23,544 was raised. AVA will continue to support our adopted home by engaging our officers and caring Good eating habits are also fundamental to healthy living. To for our communities. encourage healthy eating habits, AVA organised monthly Fruit Days. Each month, a particular type of fruit was given to each AVA staff, accompanied by an email highlighting the health benefits of the fruit.

In addition, a health bazaar was organised at VPHC to encourage AVA staff to snack healthily. Other activities such as health talks and health screenings were also organised to promote healthy living.

CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT

Environment and Conservation The annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was held on 17 September 2011 at Changi Beach Park. The ICC is an international event conducted in about 100 countries, and is coordinated by the US-based agency. AVA supported this global event, by organising the beach clean-up in collaboration AVA organised the “AVA Charity Pasar Pagi 2011” and raised $23,544 for with the National University of Singapore. The entire coastal our adopted charity, Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation, by selling a variety of food and non-food items.

84 looking after you | organisational excellence STAFF STRENGTH ** (till 31 March 2012)

REGULATORY CORPORATE CATEGORIES OF STAFF PROGRAMMES & TOTAL TECHNOLOGY GROUP OPERATIONS GROUP Management/Professional 122 214 336 Technical Support 69 193 262 Non-technical Support 57 47 104 Operation Support 58 70 128 Grand Total 306 524 830

** Excluding temporary staff

DISTRIBUTION OF STAFF BY QUALIFICATION

Degree & Above 344 Diploma 83 “A” Levels & Below 403 Total 830

DISTRIBUTION OF STAFF BY AGE GROUP

51 & Above 348 41 – 50 104 31 – 40 199 30 & Below 179 Total 830

PERFORMANCE IN STAR FOR FY 2011

NO. OF COMPLETED NO. OF IMPLEMENTED HOLDING STRENGTH NO. OF STAR TEAMS * PROJECTS PROJECTS 809 51 41 41

PERFORMANCE IN TWINKLE FOR FY 2011

HOLDING STRENGTH* NO. OF SUGGESTIONS PARTICIPATION RATE SUGGESTION RATIO 809 1,771 85.8% 2.19

* Excluding temporary staff, and staff on no-pay leave, secondment, and post-graduate courses.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 85 AVA performance indicators

VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH & FOOD SAFETY

OUTCOME INDICATORS OBJECTIVES

OUTCOME INDICATORS PROJECTED TARGET ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Ensuring a resilient supply of Number of cases of food- Not more than 60 cases per There were 45 food-borne safe and wholesome food to borne illnesses per 100,000 100,000 population illnesses cases per 100,000 Singapore population population

Number of key food items 4 out of 5 Achieved for key food items of that has less than 50% of pork, chicken, fish, except for supply from a single country hen eggs and leafy vegetables (where imports from Malaysia were about 76% and 66% respectively).

OUTPUT INDICATORS

PROJECTED OUTPUT ACTUAL VOLUME ACTUAL ACHIEVED ACTIVITY FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Business cluster meetings/ 8 Food Business 12 Food Business 150% trade association meetings Cluster Meetings Cluster Meetings Food sourcing & study trips 2 2 100% To monitor the compliance 95% 5,912 out of 6,206 samples 95.2% status of locally collected complied with Food manufactured/ processed Regulations food with Food Regulations To conduct inspection 100% 100% 100% and sampling of export consignments within 3 working days To process application for 100% 100% 100% food establishments’ licenses within 7 working days from the date of receipt of application

86 looking after you | performance indicators performance indicators AVA

ANIMAL & PLANT HEALTH

OUTCOME INDICATORS

OUTCOME INDICATORS PROJECTED TARGET ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Safeguarding animal and Percentage freedom from 95% freedom or free from 96.5% freedom or free from plant health important animal and plant outbreaks of at least 110 out outbreaks of at least 112 out disease outbreaks of 116* important animal and of 116* important animal and plant diseases. plant diseases

* The Animals and Birds (Disease) Notification was amended on 1st September 2008 to include five aquatic animal diseases. The five aquatic animal diseases are Epizootic ulcerative syndrome, Koi herpesvirus, Red sea bream iridoviral disease, Spring viraemia of carp and White spot disease.

OUTPUT INDICATORS

PROJECTED OUTPUT ACTUAL VOLUME ACTUAL ACHIEVED ACTIVITY FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Prevention and control of To carry out 190,000 223,102 laboratory tests done 117.42% diseases of animals and plants laboratory tests

FOOD SUPPLY AND TECHNOLOGY

OUTCOME INDICATORS

OUTCOME INDICATORS PROJECTED TARGET ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Management of the local Level of productivity of leafy - Achieved levels of productivity agri-industry (farming sector) vegetable, finfish, and layer for hen and quail eggs at 9.9 farms in Agrotechnology Parks million pieces per hectare, and coastal fish culture farms leafy vegetables at 111 tonnes per hectare and finfishes at 55.97 tonnes per hectare.

OUTPUT INDICATORS

PROJECTED OUTPUT ACTUAL VOLUME ACTUAL ACHIEVED ACTIVITY FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Accreditation of overseas food To conduct 82 inspections 83% 68 inspections sources

Testing food samples* 65,000 59,811 92.02% Conduct laboratory tests* 1,600,000 1,788,589 111.79% Management of To manage 224 farms in 224 100% Agrotechnology Parks Agrotechnology Parks To manage 119 coastal fish 119 100% culture farms

* In addition to sending food samples to VPHL, AVA has also sent food samples to external SINGLAS-accredited laboratories for food safety testing. In FY 2011, a total of 79,164 tests were conducted on 9,115 food samples by the external laboratories.

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 87 AVA performance indicators

AGRI-TRADE FACILITATION SERVICES

OUTCOME INDICATORS

OUTCOME INDICATORS PROJECTED TARGET ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Facilitate trade of animal, Management of the Less than 0.3% of certified Fulfilled, with 0% of certified plant and food product percentage of certified export exports consignments that export consignments that consignments that are rejected are rejected by importing are rejected by importing by importing countries countries countries

OUTPUT INDICATORS

PROJECTED OUTPUT ACTUAL VOLUME ACTUAL ACHIEVED ACTIVITY FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 FOR FY 2011 Animal, plant, and food To issue 47,600 export 47,144 export documents 99.04% products documents were issued To issue 790,800 import 831,177 import documents 105.11% documents were issued

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COMMITMENTS

OUTCOME INDICATORS

OBJECTIVE OUTCOME INDICATORS FOR FY 2011 ACTUAL PERFORMANCE FOR FY 2011 Represent the government Fulfil Singapore’s international Fulfilled internationally on matters related to obligations in SEAFDEC, ASEAN, APEC, or connected with the agri-food and and CITES veterinary sectors. Singapore’s interests in agrifood and Achieved veterinary sectors are not compromised

OUTPUT INDICATORS

ACTIVITY ACTUAL VOLUME FOR FY 2011 ACTUAL ACHIEVED FOR FY 2011 To manage Marine Fisheries Research Implemented all regional projects and Achieved. Conducted three regional Department’s (MFRD) (Southeast activities under MFRD (SEAFDEC) projects, a SEAFDEC information Asian Fisheries Development Centre – programmes programme, and ASEANSEAFDEC SEAFDEC) programmes through AVA’s Conference (MFRD’s Theme) Post-Harvest Technology Centre as Collaborating Centre of SEAFDEC To participate in relevant meetings 69 meetings attended - and activities of AMAF, OIE, SEAFDEC, CITES, CODEX Alimentarius, Bilateral, WTO FTA , APEC, ASEM and IPPC

88 looking after you | performance indicators statistics AVA

MAJOR SOURCES OF SUPPLY

UNITED STATES NETHERLANDS CHINA THAILAND VIETNAM Beef Chicken Cooking Oil Fish Fish Chicken Pork Fish Fruits Fruits Duck Vegetables Fruits Rice Rice Eggs Fruits Pork Sugar Sugar Fish Rice Vegetables Vegetables Fruits Sugar Pork Vegetables Rice Vegetables

BRAZIL FRANCE INDIA MALAYSIA INDONESIA AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Beef Chicken Fish Chicken Fish Beef Beef Chicken Duck Fruits Cooking Oil Fruits Fish Eggs Fruits Fish Rice Duck Pork Fruits Fish Pork Fruits Sugar Eggs Vegetables Mutton Fruits Sugar Pork Vegetables Fish Milk Pork Mutton Vegetables Fruits Rice Vegetables Milk Vegetables Sugar Sugar Vegetables Milk

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 89 AVA statistics

CONSUMPTION, IMPORT & LOCAL FARM PRODUCTION FIGURES (JAN TO DEC 2011)

Cooking Hen Tonnes Beef Chicken Duck Fish Fruits Mutton Pork Rice Sugar Vegetables Oil Eggs *

Consumption 23,883 170,958 93,271 13,454 110,355 344,344 1,594 8,833 98,743 276,344 242,368 494,126

Import 36,659 180,051 342,269 13,532 145,678 369,277 1,211 9,260 101,221 361,932 380,155 497,069

Local Farm - 769 - - 5,086 - 384 - - - - 20,355 Production

* In million pieces

PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION

Produce 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Chicken (kg) 28 33 27 30 27 31 32 31 32 33 Duck (kg) 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 Pork (kg) 18 20 21 19 20 21 19 19 20 19 Beef (kg) 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 Mutton (kg) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Fish (kg) 25 24 23 24 24 24 23 23 21 21 Vegetables (kg) 89 92 89 105 96 98 95 94 96 95 Fruits (kg) 87 84 81 79 76 72 70 69 67 66 Hen eggs (pcs) 282 307 268 285 291 302 300 300 309 308

EX-FARM PRICE FOR PRIMARY PRODUCE (FROM JAN - DEC EACH YEAR)

($) ($) 9.39 9.15 9 9 8.46 8.88 7.87 7.96 8.86 8 7.72 8 7.53 Fish ($/kg) 7.67 7 7

6 6

5 5 Pig ($/kg) 4.39 4.18 4.18 4 3.59 3.59 4 4.05 Chicken 3.27 3.34 ($/kg) 3 3.56 3.60 2.91 2.86 3 2.59 2.68 2.70 2.63 Duck ($/kg) 2.33 2.33 2 2.30 2.30 2.43 2.25 2.21 2.28 2 1.78 2.27 2.10 2.15 1.41 Hen eggs 1.49 1.56 1.42 1.22 1.61 1.23 1.05 1.30 ($/10pcs) 1 1.02 0.94 1.14 1.23 1.21 1 1.25 1.15 0.96 0.92 0.97 0.99 1.09 Vegetable 0.95 ($/kg) 0 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

(Year)

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ACCREDITATIONS, SUSPENSIONS AND REINSTATEMENT OF PIG AND POULTRY FARMS (FY 2011)

FARM TYPE Chicken Chicken Pig Duck Broiler Chicken Layer Total Broiler Breeder No. of new farms accredited 0 14 1 2 0 17 No. of farms suspended/ delisted 0 29 4 1 0 34 No. of farms reinstated 0 13* 0 0 0 13 No. of inspection visits 13 24 6 4 0 47

* Some of the broiler farms reinstated based on documentary evaluation without on farm inspection. Farms suspended due to SE, drug residues and major non-compliance with export conditions.

TRADE DOCUMENTATION AND IMPORT INSPECTION FIGURES (FY 2011)

Meat and meat Fish and fish Fruits and vegetables Processed food products products No. of traders 2,774 1,088 10,188 registered No. of import permits 20,816 187,516 217,827 318,080 issued Quantity and value of 280,585 tonnes 212,291 tonnes 877,199 tonnes 3,491,090 tonnes products approved for import $1,207.58 million $1,391.57 million $1,000.64 million $9,773.08 million

ILLEGAL IMPORTS INTERCEPTED (FY 2011)

Meat and Fruits & Animals and Poultry eggs CITES Processed food seafood Vegetables birds Total no. of cases 13 82 18 14 23 359 No. prosecuted in court 0 0 0 6 - 0 No. compounded 4 49 1 3 11 97 No. warned 9 32 0 4 3 258 Others (relevant particulars not 0 1 17 1 9 4 available, no action required)

AVA annual report 2011 / 2012 91 AVA statistics

FARMING ACTIVITIES IN SINGAPORE (FY 2011)

Farm Type No. of Farms Net Area (Hectares) Fish Aquarium fish (breeding/ export) 74 163.77 Marine/ Freshwater food fish And Shrimp (land-based) 9 33.62 Animals and Birds Layer (hen eggs) 3 48.17 SPF eggs 1 3.00 Quail and other game birds 2 4.72 Exotic birds 4 10.18 Dairy cattle and goats 4 9.40 Frogs and crocodiles 3 10.10 Dogs (breeding/ boarding/ training) / Commercial pet boarding 10 9.51 Plants Vegetables 46 104.08 Food Crops 2 9.49 Bean Sprouts 6 6.38 Mushroom 1 0.98 Orchid and ornamental plants 81 297.93 Aquatic plants 1 11.74 Fodder crops 1 4.70 Jatropha cultivation for biofuel research 1 1.70 Total (land-based) 249 729.47 Food fish/ crustaceans/ molluscs (sea-based) 119 93.00

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