Good evening. I am happy to join you at this year’s Food Safety Awards Night.

Importance of Food Safety

2 In Singapore, we import about 90% of our food, making us vulnerable to supply disruptions at source countries. The safety of food materials coming into Singapore for direct consumption or further processing is therefore one of AVA’s key concerns. In recent years, emergence of animal and plant diseases in many parts of the world is a major cause of concern. We must have systems and processes in place to safeguard our food supply from such threats.

3 As key players in the food industry, you are all very familiar with the risks faced with regard to food-borne diseases. In recent years, we have had to respond to the mad-cow disease, foot and mouth disease, Nipah virus, and HPAI. HPAI has entrenched itself in our region, spread to many parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, and is set to affect the health and livelihoods of citizens of many countries for years to come.

Risk Management Approach to Food Safety

4 HPAI thus represents one of the biggest threats to our food supply. To face this threat, the Government has, and will continue to take a stern but pragmatic risk-managed approach towards food safety.

5 The risk management approach allows imports of food from countries not totally disease-free. Such an approach is science-based, in line with international guidelines, and comes with risk mitigation measures to ensure food safety.

6 Today, we have already implemented the zonal approach for poultry and egg imports from Malaysia. AVA and Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) have established Disease-Free Zones (DFZs) in Malaysia. AVA-accredited farms within these zones could export to Singapore, even if there are outbreaks in other parts of the country.

7 The benefits of this approach were felt when outbreaks of HPAI were discovered in Perak in March this year. While AVA acted immediately to ban ducks coming from that state, import of poultry and eggs from other unaffected DFZs like Johor or Malacca continued to be allowed. This has helped to maintain our chicken and egg supply and prices during the outbreak.

8 Malaysia has since declared the country to be free of the HPAI virus. AVA officers have recently inspected the duck farms in Perak to evaluate the situation and assess whether poultry imports from Perak could be resumed. AVA is currently finalising its assessment and will come to a decision very soon.

9 The risk-management approach has further allowed us to resume import of boneless beef cuts from US since Feb 06. AVA had worked with US Department of Agriculture to put in place a package of measures, that will prevent the mad cow disease from affecting meats destined for export to our market.

10 Underpinning the effective implementation of a risk management approach is the AVA’s integrated food safety system. The system of checks on farms, abattoirs and food-processing factories is supported and complemented by the advanced and rapid diagnostic capability of AVA’s laboratory services.

HACCP Certification

11 Besides the Government’s role in ensuring food safety, the industry also has an important part to play in maintaining high food standards. In this regard, I would like to reiterate the importance of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programme, which Dr Chua had briefly touched on earlier.

12 Getting certified in this internationally recognised food safety system is an indication of your commitment in ensuring food safety. I am heartened to know that there are more than 250 companies (or some 60% of Singapore food manufacturers with more than 10 employees) that have been HACCP-certified.

13 I am also encouraged to note that the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA) has started its own SME HACCP Program to encourage its members to obtain certification. AVA’s goal is for all food factories in Singapore to become HACCP-certified.

14 HACCP certification will benefit the industry, by differentiating the quality of Singapore’s food against cheaper products from the region. With more countries requiring evidence that food imports come from establishments with a robust safety system in place, those of you who have HACCP certification will have higher chance of selling your products overseas. The HACCP system will also reduce wastage in your processing lines, and customers who know of your certification will hold your products in higher regard. Through all this, you will also help Singapore maintain our reputation as a trusted hub with high food safety standards.

15 Many countries, like Australia, Europe and the United States, already mandating HACCP-certification. It is therefore imperative for the industry, to cooperate with AVA’s drive for HACCP certification. By doing so, the industry will move quickly to maintain its competitive edge in our globalised market.

Personal Responsibility for Food Safety

16 Besides the industry, the public also has a role to play in ensuring the safety of the food they consume. Everyone must take personal responsibility, and put into practice the important food safety messages that AVA has been promoting in its campaigns.

17 Today we launch our Food Safety Campaign, with focus for this year as “Wash and Keep Clean”. Micro-organisms can be found everywhere, in the environment, on our hands, and in our food. By washing and keeping clean, we can prevent harmful micro-organisms from being transferred to our food and causing food poisoning. Simple, yet effective.

18 As part of this year’s campaign, AVA will be publicising food safety messages through the TV and radio. AVA will also be providing food safety tips to the public at supermarkets, and through talks at schools. We also plan to invite grassroots leaders to our Veterinary Public Health Centre, to show them the capabilities of AVA’s labs, which underpin our food safety and risk management efforts.

Closing remarks

19 In closing, I would like to congratulate those receiving the food safety awards tonight. I would also like to especially mention two companies who are also AVA’s new Food Safety Partners - Tai Hua Food Industries and Gardenia Foods.

20 Also, I would like to commend the existing Food Safety Partners - Cold Storage Supermarkets, Chop Hup Chong, KSB Distribution, NTUC FairPrice and Thong Siek Food Industries - for efforts in establishing and maintaining high standards, and for their staunch commitment to public education on food safety. I hope that more industry players will come forward to be AVA’s Partners.

21 To all the award recipients, I thank you for helping to raise the bar on food safety, and making the Singapore Brand of food safe and attractive. I encourage the industry to strive even harder so that more companies would achieve the Gold Excellence award. Let us work together to make Singapore a distinctive place where locals and visitors can enjoy safe and wholesome food.

22 I wish you all a pleasant evening.

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