Food & agriculture — Topics

11 Sep 2017

Tackling Food Fraud in Global Supply Chain

The Ministry employs a comprehensive regulatory regime, requiring all imported and locally produced food to comply with AVA’s safety standards and only to come from approved sources.
AVA conducts regular sample testing, including species identification and adulteration checks, to ensure food authenticity, and conducts pre-emptive international monitoring to anticipate potential fraud.
Investigations are carried out on all allegations, leading to product removal, enforcement actions, fines up to $10,000, and possible imprisonment, licence suspension, or destruction of goods.
Over 270 officers are dedicated to food safety, with ongoing training in conferences and workshops, and the use of advanced equipment like Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometers and DNA Thermocyclers for detection.

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11 Sep 2017

Assistance and Compensation for Farmers Affected by expansion of Tengah Airbase

Alex Yam asked how farmers affected by the Tengah Airbase expansion would be assisted and compensated.
The Second Minister for National Development stated that four affected owners will receive market value compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, with Singapore Land Authority officers assisting them through the process.
AVA and NParks will assign officers to help farmers with relocation, business development, and technology adoption, including access to co-funding schemes like the Agriculture Productivity Fund and Landscape Productivity Grant.

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1 Aug 2017

Checks on Hawkers to Prevent Touting

Joan Pereira asked about regular checks on hawkers in public areas like Lau Pa Sat to prevent touting and the consequences for violators.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) does not enforce touting rules in privately-managed food centres like Lau Pa Sat but does so in 110 government-owned hawker centres.
In government centres, NEA officers inspect for touting, and offenders risk tenancy termination; the public can report issues via NEA’s website, app, or call centre.

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4 Jul 2017

Application and Price Trends for NEA Hawker Stalls

As of May 2017, 97% of over 6,000 NEA-managed cooked food stalls were occupied, with average tender bids over the last three years at $1,370 per month, ranging from $1 to $4,888.
The Ministry stated it will not reinstate a policy of allocating stalls at market rates to those in financial hardship, citing historically low take-up rates and the need for hawkers to have business skills rather than just need.
However, the Ministry is implementing initiatives to support aspiring hawkers, including training programs, a hawkerpreneur course, and incubator stalls to help individuals, including the retrenched, enter the trade sustainably.

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8 May 2017

Compensation from Shipping Companies to Fish Farm Owners Affected by Oil Spill in January 2017

Leon Perera asked whether any fish farm owners affected by the January 2017 oil spill had received compensation from shipping companies, what measures AVA was taking to address delays in the claims process, and when compensation was expected.
Lawrence Wong explained that the insurance claim process is private between claimants and insurers, with duration depending on claim complexity and negotiations, and that affected farmers are dealing directly with insurers.
He noted that AVA had assisted farmers by helping submit claims and arranging meetings with insurers for clarification, and that some farmers had already received compensation.

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8 May 2017

Violations of Environmental Public Health Act by Food Courts

NEA reported increased enforcement actions and license suspensions for food hygiene violations between 2013 and 2016, with food courts, coffee shops, and canteens accounting for a significant portion, while maintaining a low food poisoning incidence rate.
The government requires food handlers to undergo basic food hygiene training and has implemented schemes like the Food Hygiene Officer program, but has declined to mandate training for all eatery workers due to practicality and cost concerns.
NEA conducts regular inspections, public outreach programs, and provides hygiene records for public access, while working with town councils and hawker associations to address cleaning coordination issues in shared spaces.

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3 Apr 2017

Building a Wet Market and Hawker Centre at Upper Serangoon Crescent

Sylvia Lim asked whether the Government will build a wet market and hawker centre at Upper Serangoon Crescent due to new housing developments in the area.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that the National Environment Agency considers factors like existing facilities, land availability, and population when siting new hawker centres and markets.
He noted that there are already several eating establishments, wet markets, and hawker centres in the vicinity of Upper Serangoon Crescent.
He stated that there are no plans to build a new hawker centre or wet market at Upper Serangoon Crescent.
He added that the need for new hawker centres to serve new housing developments is reviewed regularly.

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3 Apr 2017

Proposed Hawker Centre in Choa Chu Kang

Alex Yam inquired about the timeline and location for the proposed hawker centre in Choa Chu Kang.
The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources confirmed Choa Chu Kang is scheduled for a new hawker centre by 2027.
Planning for the centre is in its early stages, with details to be provided later.

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3 Apr 2017

Temporary Jobs for Hawkers and Their Assistants when Hawker Centres Close for Renovation and Repair

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan inquired about schemes for temporary job placement or training for hawkers and their assistants during hawker centre closures for repairs and renovation.
The Minister responded that stallholders receive rental remissions during closures and can access training grants through SkillsFuture Singapore or seek job assistance via Workforce Singapore's career centres and Jobs Bank.
A one-stop Information and Service Centre for hawkers will be established later this year to provide details on training courses and support services.

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28 Feb 2017

Impact of Algae Blooms and Oil Spills on Aim to Increase Locally Farmed Fish in Local Consumption

Plankton blooms and an oil spill impacted some local fish farmers, but the government remains committed to achieving the 15% target for locally farmed fish in consumption, with production having increased from 8% in 2014 to 10% in 2016.
The government provided direct assistance to affected farmers, including subsidies for restocking, deployment of protective materials during the oil spill, and help with insurance claims, while also developing real-time water monitoring systems and customized contingency plans.
To build resilience, AVA is co-funding new technologies like closed containment aquaculture systems and is exploring further innovations, including potential vertical or urban farming and the development of insurance products to pool risks for farmers.

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6 Feb 2017

Fake Food Imports Detected

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development about the number of fake food imports detected by AVA over the past three years, the breakdown by country of origin, and actions taken against suppliers.
The Minister responded that AVA has not detected any cases of fake food in Singapore, but has taken enforcement action against 26 cases of mislabelling from 2014 to 2016, involving products like honey and chia seeds.
Traders in these mislabelling cases were warned, fined, or required to correct labels, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to three months for importing fake food or mislabelling.

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10 Jan 2017

Effectiveness of Move to Let Social Enterprises Run Hawker Centres

The debate highlighted that social enterprises managing hawker centres have implemented measures like price monitoring, affordable meal options, and productivity innovations (e.g., self-payment kiosks and centralised dishwashing), with largely positive feedback from hawkers and patrons.
New initiatives, such as entrepreneurship programmes and train-and-place schemes, have helped lower entry barriers for aspiring hawkers, with examples of new entrants from various professions benefiting from these schemes.
Concerns were raised about high conservancy fees at some centres, with the government explaining that these fees cover specific services (cleaning, utilities, and dishwashing) and are market-determined, offsetting some costs for hawkers through improved productivity.
The government plans to extend the social enterprise model to more hawker centres, leveraging economies of scale to enhance vibrancy and operational efficiency while maintaining affordable rents for hawkers.

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10 Nov 2016

Reduction in Hawker Stall Rent for Hawkers who Fall Ill

Dennis Tan proposed that NEA consider rent reductions for hawkers certified medically unfit to work due to illness, with an annual limit.
Dr Amy Khor responded that while rent must be paid, the Ministry assesses such requests case-by-case and may allow a stallholder to appoint someone else to operate during illness.
She noted that exceptions, such as rent waivers, are granted only for exceptional compassionate circumstances, citing an example of a stallholder with serious injuries.
Ultimately, she advised stallholders to evaluate their health and consider transferring stalls or other employment if frequently medically unfit.

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8 Nov 2016

Discontinuation of Hardship Scheme for Hawkers

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap inquired about the reasons for discontinuing the hardship scheme for hawkers since 1989 and whether it might be reinstated.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained the scheme was discontinued in 1990 due to low take-up, as those in hardship preferred stalls in popular centres, and now all stalls are tendered openly.
The government has no plans to reinstate the scheme, emphasizing that hawker success requires entrepreneurship and that financial assistance is available through other government schemes.

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7 Nov 2016

Temporary Centre for Hawkers Affected by Fire at Jurong West Market and Coffeeshop

Ang Wei Neng asked if HDB could fund a temporary market or hawker centre for Jurong West stallholders affected by a fire while awaiting permanent rebuilding.
Lawrence Wong stated HDB would fully fund the replacement premises and, in the interim, provided immediate assistance including waived rentals and temporary stall offers from NEA, plus job fair support.
The government will continue monitoring and providing further help, complementing community fundraising efforts for the temporary market.

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15 Aug 2016

Food Centre and Market at Block 511 Bedok North Street 3 after Expiry of Lease in October 2017

The Bedok North Street 3 food centre and market was upgraded in 2004 under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme, which ended in 2014, and no further upgrades are planned.
The Town Council is responsible for maintenance and cyclical repairs, such as repainting and fixture replacements, and has been doing so in a timely manner.
The Minister confirmed that no renovations are scheduled after the lease expiry in October 2017, as the centre is not eligible for further government upgrades.

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15 Aug 2016

Review of Rice Stockpile Scheme Given Extreme Weather Changes

Chen Show Mao questioned whether the Rice Stockpile Scheme and Singapore’s Food Security Roadmap can withstand extreme weather events like the 2015–2016 El Niño, which affected crop outputs in Southeast and South Asia.
Lawrence Wong highlighted import source diversification as a core strategy, citing how traders switched to alternative sources like China to stabilize supply and prices when weather affected Malaysia.
Local production through controlled-environment farming, supported by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, complements diversification and aims to boost self-reliance in key food items.
The government maintains a strategic rice stockpile, requiring importers to hold reserves of staple rice to buffer against short-term supply disruptions.
These measures—diversification, local production, and stockpiling—form a multi-pronged approach to enhance Singapore’s food resilience amid climatic uncertainties.

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15 Aug 2016

Impact on Rice Supply Given El Nino Effect and Weather Changes

Chen Show Mao asked whether the 2015-2016 El Nino would reduce rice supply from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and India, and how this might affect Singapore's rice prices for the rest of the year.
Lim Hng Kiang noted that the US Department of Agriculture forecasts a 1.6% drop in global rice production for 2016 due to lower yields in major producing countries, but no supply disruption is expected because of existing stockpiles.
He added that El Nino has weakened with the June monsoon, and world rice production is forecast to rise by 9.8 million metric tons in the year ahead.
Retail rice prices in Singapore have been stable over the past year and are expected to remain so for the rest of the year, barring any unforeseen crisis.

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11 Jul 2016

Development Plans for Wet Market and Hawker Centre at Block 511, Bedok North Street after Expiry of Lease

The wet market and hawker centre at Block 511, Bedok North Street will continue operating after its lease expires in October 2017.
Stall-owners can continue their businesses, with previously subsidised ones paying current subsidised rent and others paying market rent or tendering for vacant stalls.
The NEA is studying alternative management models that maintain the objectives of providing affordable and hygienic food.
The Town Council remains responsible for maintenance, including repairs and redecorations.

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11 Jul 2016

Implementation of Tray Return Initiative at All NEA-managed Hawker Centres

The tray return initiative was rolled out across all NEA-managed hawker centres by July 2015 at an average cost of about $11,000 per centre, with varying success rates and efforts ongoing to improve awareness and accessibility.
The initiative is assessed through varying tray-return rates at different centres, with the government working with community groups and schools to promote higher participation and more visible tray return stations.
At hawker centres with food waste recycling trials, returned crockery helps cleaners segregate food waste for recycling, with staff trained on this process at specific locations.
The initiative aims to improve cleanliness, increase cleaner efficiency, and ease manpower constraints, with a focus on fostering social graciousness.

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