Singapore does not import poultry or poultry products from the Brazilian establishment affected by a bird flu outbreak, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) confirmed in a joint statement on 19 May 2025.
This confirmation comes after Brazil, the world’s largest chicken exporter, reported its first case of bird flu on a commercial farm, triggering import bans from several countries including China, Japan, and the European Union.
The outbreak was detected on a farm in Montenegro, located in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Singapore’s Poultry Supply Chain and Regionalisation Arrangements
Singapore has bird flu regionalisation arrangements with Brazil, according to the SFA and AVS.
“Under such arrangements, in response to food safety concerns, imports from affected establishments and those within a buffer zone may be suspended while those imports from unaffected areas outside the buffer zone can continue,” the authorities stated.
Brazil has been a major chicken supplier to Singapore, accounting for approximately 48% of Singapore’s chicken imports from 2019 to 2021.
Despite this significant percentage, Singapore’s authorities stressed that the country’s poultry supply remains stable.
The Republic maintains a diversified supply network with 30 accredited sources, including Indonesia, Thailand, Denmark, and Malaysia.
FairPrice Group reported that its operations are currently not impacted by the bird flu outbreak in Brazil.
The supermarket chain confirmed it has ample stocks in its warehouses and encouraged customers not to stockpile poultry.
Sheng Siong, which also counts Brazil as one of its primary sources for frozen poultry, said it will work closely with suppliers to monitor the situation.
Brazil Bird Flu Outbreak Details and Global Response
The strain identified in Brazil is a highly pathogenic avian influenza, a variant that can be deadly to domestic poultry and capable of wiping out entire flocks within days.
The virus has killed approximately 15,000 birds at the affected farm, with an additional 2,000 birds culled as a precautionary measure.
Brazil first confirmed outbreaks of the virus among wild birds in May 2023, but the case reported on 16 May 2025 marks the first on a commercial farm.
In response to the outbreak, Brazilian authorities have created a task force in Montenegro to prevent the virus from spreading.
Officials have visited 524 properties within a 10km radius of the farm where the first case was found.
The Brazilian government has also traced and destroyed eggs from the affected farm. Around 450 tonnes of eggs from Rio Grande do Sul have been destroyed to date.
Several major importers have implemented restrictions following the outbreak.
China, Brazil’s top chicken buyer, has imposed a countrywide trade ban on chicken imports for 60 days.
The European Union and South Korea have also banned poultry imports from Brazil for the same duration.
Japan has taken a more targeted approach, suspending poultry meat imports specifically from Montenegro and live poultry from the wider state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Singapore maintains strict measures to prevent bird flu from entering the country, including source accreditation, import control, and regular testing of migratory birds.
AVS and SFA emphasized that while Singapore remains free from bird flu, the disease is endemic in the region, highlighting the importance of the country’s biosurveillance and biosecurity programs.
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