Some Pork Vendors Will Suspend Their Business As S’pore Halts Live Pig Imports from Pulau Bulan

Last Updated on 2023-05-05 , 2:28 pm

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) discovered African Swine Fever (ASF) cases among hogs in Indonesia on 20 April 2023. As a result, there will be a temporary interruption in the supply of freshly slaughtered pork in Singapore.

Pork vendors that source their pork from Indonesia will be more affected. Some are preparing to suspend operations from 23 April 2023 until the announcement of the availability and pricing of pork from other sources, such as Australian and frozen pork, is released.

This situation is similar to when Malaysia halted exports of chickens in June 2022, and poultry sellers had to close their stalls temporarily. This led to a price hike of 10 to 30% in chicken.

Although the disruption in pork supply may raise concerns among consumers about a possible increase in pork prices, the authorities have reassured the public that locally sold pork is safe and still available for purchase.

Additionally, alternative protein options such as chicken and fish are available.

Some Pork Vendors Affected

According to Lianhe Zaobao, pork prices have not fluctuated, but some pork vendors temporarily closed their stalls on 21 April 2023 due to supply interruptions.

The vendors shared that they were waiting for the latest news from the SFA and pricing from suppliers.

According to Mr Huang Laibao, a pork vendor at Kallang Market, the temporary interruption of pork supply would significantly impact his business since he usually purchases four pigs daily from Indonesia. 

He expressed concern that he would soon run out of fresh pork to sell, as it cannot be stored for extended periods. Although Australian pork is an option, he worries the price might increase.

In contrast, another pork vendor, Mr Hu Xingqing, who operates in the Pasir Ris Avenue 6 market, reported that the supply interruption has little effect on his business since he primarily sells Australian pork. 

He explained that he had been importing more Australian pork over the years due to the inconsistent quality of Indonesian pork.

Meanwhile, consumers interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao expressed little concern about the supply interruption’s impact on their health, as they knew that the ASF disease does not affect humans. 

Although some prefer Indonesian pork, they reported that alternative sources, such as Australian pork, were still available for consumption.

Halt in Pork Supply Chain Due to Detection of African Swine Fever

On 20 April 2023, the SFA discovered the presence of the ASF disease in pig carcasses from a consignment of live pigs imported from Pulau Bulan in Indonesia. 

Following this, the SFA has suspended the import of live pigs from Pulau Bulan and removed the affected carcasses from the pork supply chain.

This is the first time the ASF disease has been detected in imported pigs in Singapore, and as a result, the import of live pigs from Pulau Bulan, which contributes to around 15% of Singapore’s total pork supply, will be halted. 

Temporary disruptions in the supply chain of freshly slaughtered pork are expected from 23 April 2023 since pigs from Pulao Bulan account for about two-thirds of Singapore’s supply.

Working with Partners to Prevent Interruptions in Pork Supply

To prevent further disruptions in the pork supply chain, the SFA has stated that it will collaborate with industry partners to increase the availability of chilled and frozen pork from other sources. 

They also emphasised that Singapore has a diverse supply of pork from over 20 sources, including live pigs from Sarawak in East Malaysia and chilled or frozen pork from Australia, Brazil, and other countries, apart from Pulau Bulan.

Dr Koh Poh Koon, the Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, also visited NTUC FairPrice on 21 April 2023 to confirm the supply of frozen pork and other protein options, such as chicken and fish, is sufficient.

He added that the supply would be more than enough if people consume responsibly and do not hoard it for themselves. Moreover, the SFA has assured the public that the pork available in Singapore is safe for consumption as ASF does not affect humans and is not a food safety concern. 

Additionally, Singapore’s import requirements for pigs, pork, and pork products are based on scientific evidence and consider guidelines and standards from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

The SFA has also since worked with the slaughterhouse to sanitise the premises and surrounding environment to maintain biosecurity measures. 

Meanwhile, they will also work with the Animal and Veterinary Service and a cluster of the National Parks Board to monitor the situation in case of more cases of sick pigs.

What is the African Swine Fever?

In February 2023, Singapore recorded its first case of ASF, detected in a wild boar carcass in the island’s northwest region.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that is commonly found among domestic and wild pigs, with a mortality rate that can reach 100%.

While the disease is highly contagious among pigs, it is not dangerous to humans. However, it can devastate pig populations and the farming economy. 

The virus is known to be highly resistant to the environment, meaning it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in pork products like ham, sausages, or bacon. 

Unfortunately, there is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.

As a result, ASF can easily spread across borders if relevant authorities do not take adequate measures. Since July 2022, 74 countries have reported cases of ASF. 

To address this issue, the SFA has implemented regulations requiring regions that export raw pork to Singapore to be free from the virus. 

However, processed pork products from areas affected by ASF can be imported and sold, provided they have been heat-treated to inactivate the virus.

Pork Supply from Various Sources Still Available

Singapore has faced food supply disruptions before, with Malaysia imposing a ban on chicken exports to ensure sufficient supply in its domestic market, resulting in a hike in chicken prices in Singapore in June 2022. 

The SFA has identified supply diversification as Singapore’s key food security strategy to prevent such disruptions. This reduces the impact of disruption from any single source as importers can turn to alternative sources quickly to stabilise Singapore’s food supply. 

Nevertheless, to ensure food safety and animal health, only countries and establishments fully accredited by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) can export meat and egg products to Singapore. 

Their accreditation process includes accessing the robustness of an exporting country’s national animal health and food safety system and considering each country’s respective authorities’ powers to enforce food safety and animal health requirements.

All imported food to Singapore is also subject to AVA’s import requirements, routine surveillance, inspection, and sampling programmes.

Currently, Singapore’s accredited pork sources come from 24 countries for frozen pork, six countries for chilled pork and one farm in Indonesia and one in Malaysia.

As such, the SFA encourages consumers to be flexible and adaptable with their food choices, as they can still choose from various food types besides pork. They can also opt for frozen or chilled pork from other countries and other forms of meat.