Rodent Management Measures

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the Ministry can provide an update on the rodent situation in Singapore and the measures taken to eradicate rodents.

The Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): In 2014, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received about 4,000 pieces of feedback on rodent sightings. This is about 1,000 higher than the previous year.

Rodents thrive when there is plentiful food supply usually due to poor food storage and waste management practices. Since 2011, NEA has implemented an islandwide rodent surveillance programme to conduct systematic inspections of public areas to identify potential food sources, harbourages and burrowing activity so that pre-emptive measures against rodent infestation can be implemented. In 2014 alone, NEA made more than 140,000 inspections islandwide.

NEA has also worked with Town Councils on a dedicated "Rat Attack" programme in the housing estates since 2005. Town Councils are required to proactively detect rodent activity and reduce the rodent population. As rodents have adapted well to our urban environment and multiply quickly in poorly managed or maintained bin centres and refuse chutes, NEA will provide more assistance to the Town Councils to enhance the "Rat Attack" programme. This would include engaging pest control operators (PCOs) to directly target the rodent population harbouring in these areas, as well as improving the maintenance and management of bin centres and refuse chutes to deny rodents easy access to food sources.

NEA also regularly inspects food establishments and shopping malls. Food establishments that fail to keep their licensed premises free of rodent infestation could have their licences suspended or revoked with a corresponding downgrading of their food hygiene grading. Shopping malls are required to have rodent control programmes and to have proper waste management practices. Where necessary, NEA will also require the mall management

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to carry out structural improvements to rodent-proof the mall.

NEA takes a serious view of rodent infestation. NEA will not hesitate to enforce strictly against premises owners for lapses in rodent management. In 2014, for example, NEA took enforcement action against 82 errant premises owners for rodent infestation. While NEA will be working together with Town Councils and premises owners to address the issue of rodent infestation, the key strategy to managing rodent infestation is to remove food sources and areas of harbourage. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders, including land owners, building management and foodshop operators, to put in place a good system of housekeeping, refuse management and routine pest control checks and treatment to ensure that the rodent population is kept under control.

Madam, I have been receiving increasing feedback from residents on the sightings of rats and rodents in Nee Soon South. According to residents, it is because there is an increasing number of cat feeders leaving the food behind after feeding the cats, as well as the feeding of pigeons. I would like to ask the Second Minister if it is an offence when people feed pigeons and cats and then leave the food around. If so, how many enforcement actions have been taken, that is, how many people have been issued summonses?

Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank Er Dr Lee Bee Wah for the supplementary question. I think she has made a very good point: that, indeed, this problem of rodent infestation can be caused by a myriad of reasons. Primarily, having food as a source of protein, having poor housekeeping that allows the rodents to harbour as well as to move around through burrows are all combinations that, if untreated, could lead to serious rodent populations and problems. Food left behind, whether from pigeon feeders or any other persons that could cause a hygiene problem, will be an offence and actions can be taken against these persons. I do not have the numbers that Er Dr Lee has requested. If she wishes, she could file a separate Parliamentary Question on that.