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SFA: News about S’pore Preparing to Import Pork Carcasses From Indonesia isn’t True

2023-05-08 , 8:53 pm

News circulated this week about Singapore being prepared to import diseased pork carcasses from Indonesia.

What the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has to say to that is this: the day Singapore imports diseased pork carcasses is the day pigs might fly.

Indonesian Media Outlet Reports that Singapore is Prepared to Import Diseased Pork Carcasses; SFA Refutes the Report

On Saturday (6 May), the Indonesian news agency, Antara, reported that Singapore was ready to import pork carcasses from Pulau Bulan, Indonesia.

The catch? These pork carcasses are diseased with African swine fever.

According to Antara, this information was allegedly from the director general of animal husbandry and animal health at Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry, Dr Ir Nasrullah.

Dr Nasrullah added that this was despite the temporary suspension of exports of live pigs to Singapore. The suspension kicked in last month after the SFA detected African swine fever in what almost could have become the roast pork on your plate.

But before you fly into a panic, don’t worry. First of all, SFA has since refuted the claims made by Antara. Further, African swine fever cannot infect humans.

Strict Food Safety Requirements Means Import of Diseased Meats and Meat Products is Not Allowed

On Sunday (7 May), the SFA clarified that the report was inaccurate, adding that SFA does not import diseased animals, regardless of whether it’s dead or alive.

Food imported to Singapore must meet SFA’s stringent food safety requirements. Think of it this way: it’s like ‘A’ Levels for the food, except instead of getting a rank point, you either pass or fail.

SFA’s standards for meat and meat products aren’t any different. Meat and meat products imported into Singapore must be from accredited sources complying with SFA’s guidelines, which are rooted in science and standards from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Woah, for real.

SFA also has an integrated food safety system, which includes extensive inspection, surveillance and sampling at the point of import.

In this case, the pork carcasses, being diseased, obviously fail. SFA suspended the import of live pigs from Indonesia last month for the same reason.

African swine fever will not fly under the radar of SFA.

According to SFA, the agency has yet to receive any applications from Indonesian abattoirs to export pig carcasses and pork to Singapore, let alone approve any such applications.

You know those letters your MP writes on your behalf to be sent to ministries or statutory boards that never seem to be read? Applications from Indonesian abattoirs to export pig carcasses or pork to Singapore now are similar to those letters.

SFA won’t consider any such applications until the African swine fever problem is resolved.

Pork in Singapore Safe for Consumption; African Swine Fever Does Not Affect Humans

Regardless, you can rest assured that the pork in Singapore is still safe for consumption, given that African swine fever does not affect humans. According to WOAH, although African swine fever is highly contagious and deadly for pigs, it poses no danger to human health.

Too bad, you’ll have to find another reason to take MC.

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Nonetheless, SFA has still taken the necessary actions, such as halting the relevant imports, to ensure that diseased meat and meat products do not get onto Singaporeans’ plates.

SFA Suspends Imports of Live Pigs from Indonesia After African Swine Fever Detected

Last month, the SFA suspended imports of live pigs from Pulau Bulan, Indonesia, after African swine fever was detected in some pig carcasses. The relevant consignment has been removed from the abattoir line, and the abattoir’s premises have also been sanitised.

According to the Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon, investigations into the African swine fever situation at the Pulau Bulan farm are ongoing.

This premium we place put on food safety isn’t without its costs—literally.

Having suspended the import of live pigs from Indonesia, Singapore has had to turn to other import sources and, along with these alternative sources, higher price tags.

If you’re wondering why the auntie at the wet market sold you the same amount of pork for a higher price last week, don’t worry, it’s not because you’re not a shuai ge anymore.

For instance, at Tiong Bahru Wet Market, pork sellers have had to pay up to 30 per cent more for pork from other import sources like Sarawak, Malaysia. These higher costs are then passed down to consumers like you and me.

Putting Our Eggs in Different Baskets: Is Singapore’s Food Supply Sufficiently Diverse?

The reason why the suspension of these imports from Indonesia is such a big issue is evident—it directly affects our pork supply and, thereby, our food security.

Or, for Kiasu Singaporeans, it affects the price you pay for your pork. Aiya, inflation, GST hike, and now higher pork prices?

Anyway, according to the SFA, Singapore imports over 90% of its food. This means that when such food safety risks are identified by the SFA and imports are subsequently halted, our food supplies will be disrupted.

For instance, the live pigs from Pulau Bulan constitute 15% of Singapore’s overall pork supply and account for more than two-thirds of Singapore’s fresh pork supply. Fortunately, your roast pork uncle hasn’t gone out of business yet because Singapore does not put all our eggs in one basket.

We have more than 20 sources for our pork supply alone, including live pigs from Australia, Brazil, Denmark and New Zealand.

So, don’t worry—our pork supply, and food supply in general, is well-diversified. This reduces the impact of food supply disruptions, ensuring there’s still food on your table.

Meanwhile, SFA urges the public to opt for various types of food rather than just sticking to fresh pork and fresh pork only. For instance, you can choose frozen or chilled pork or other meats like chicken or beef.

Alternatively, how about you finally go on that diet you’ve wanted to go on for years?