Food & agriculture — Topics

11 Jul 2016

Plans and Timeline for a Hawker Centre in Chua Chu Kang Town

Zaqy Mohamad asked about the plans and timeline for a new hawker centre in Chua Chu Kang Town.
The Ministry confirmed Chua Chu Kang is identified for a new hawker centre by 2027.
The Ministry is currently working on the location and timeline details.
More information will be provided once the plans are finalized.

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9 May 2016

Carbon Filters for Food Exhaust Systems at Hawker Centres

The Minister confirmed that only four hawker centres currently have additional air cleaning systems like carbon filters installed in their exhaust systems.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) will consider installing carbon filters in existing hawker centres if issues arise, working with stakeholders like Town Councils to explore appropriate solutions.
For new hawker centres, NEA considers additional air cleaning systems such as carbon filters alongside standard baffle filters to address grease and odour concerns.
The Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme introduced centralised exhaust systems with baffle filters to reduce grease in cooking fumes, with further measures assessed based on specific needs and feedback.

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9 May 2016

Ban on Styrofoam Packaging in Hawker Centres

Miss Cheng Li Hui proposed a ban on styrofoam packaging in hawker centres due to environmental harm, with the Ministry noting that while styrofoam is incinerated safely in Singapore, reusable options are preferable and efforts are underway to discourage disposable wares.
The Ministry explained that alternative disposable packaging costs two to three times more than styrofoam, but reusable crockery is more cost-effective overall, and they are working with hawkers to encourage its use while considering practical challenges like cost and convenience.
Miss Cheng Li Hui followed up by asking for details on the costs, benefits, and timeline for adopting alternatives, to which the Ministry reiterated the cost analysis and ongoing efforts to promote reusable crockery while addressing hawker and consumer needs.

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11 Apr 2016

Rental Rebates for Hawkers Affected by Closure of Hawker Centres for Improvement Works

Ang Hin Kee asked if the Ministry would provide rental rebates and tailored training for hawkers affected by hawker centre closures for improvement works.
Masagos Zulkifli confirmed that rental remissions are already given to affected stallholders during closure periods for maintenance or major works.
The Ministry will consider facilitating hawkers' attendance at relevant training during the closure period.

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1 Mar 2016

Experiment and Sale of Genetically-modified Fish in Singapore

Leon Perera asked whether the Ministry will allow local fish farmers and scientists to experiment with and sell genetically modified fish in Singapore.
Lawrence Wong explained that research on GM animals, including fish, requires approval from the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC), which assesses safety measures for containment, handling, and transport.
Selling GM fish for human consumption requires separate approval from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), which evaluates food safety in consultation with GMAC and international guidelines.

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1 Mar 2016

Growing New Industries that Promise Economic and Non-economic Benefits

Leon Perera proposed developing indoor vertical farming and solar power as new industries to enhance food and energy security, reduce imports, and create exportable expertise, suggesting more aggressive use of rooftop and underground spaces and setting stretch targets for solar energy.
The Parliamentary Secretary affirmed the government's commitment to economic transformation and cited examples like water technology, advanced manufacturing, and solar initiatives, while noting the need for cost-benefit analysis on underground farming and emphasizing SkillsFuture to prepare workers for new sectors.
Both sides highlighted Singapore's potential to become a "living lab" for innovation, turning domestic challenges into opportunities for exportable solutions and non-economic benefits like sustainability and quality of life.

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29 Jan 2016

Plans for Wet Market in Simei

Leon Perera asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources about plans to build a wet market in Simei or a feasibility study if none exist.
The Minister stated that wet markets are typically integrated with hawker centres for viability, and a study found sufficient eating establishments and commercial facilities in Simei.
The Minister noted the nearby Tampines Round Market and Food Centre, confirming no plans to build a hawker centre or wet market in Simei.

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27 Jan 2016

Agriculture Productivity Fund Disbursements

Leon Perera asked about the disbursement amounts, project categories, grant criteria, and performance monitoring of the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) since 2009.
Lawrence Wong explained that the APF launched in end-2014, with $0.69 million disbursed in 2015, and prior funding of $18 million from 2009-2014 under a similar scheme.
The largest APF funding has gone to projects involving advanced high-technology systems, with grants scaled up to 50-90% co-funding based on project type and farm size.
The Agri-food and Veterinary Authority monitors recipients at key milestones and conducts post-implementation reviews to ensure productivity targets are met before final disbursement.

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18 Aug 2015

Prices Charged at Hawker and Food Centres

The Minister outlined how rental controls, the removal of speculative practices, and the appointment of social enterprises like NTUC Foodfare have lowered rental costs and are addressing the primary cost driver of ingredients for hawkers.
Concerns were raised about the responsibility for keeping food affordable, the importance of maintaining food value and heritage rather than just low prices, and the need for transparency with price displays at stalls.
The Minister affirmed a shared stakeholder approach to affordability, highlighted the pilot use of social enterprises to reduce ingredient costs, and agreed to study requirements for clearer price display to enhance consumer transparency.

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17 Aug 2015

Repackaging and Sale of Fukushima Food Products under Local Brand Names

Mrs Lina Chiam asked whether Fukushima food products have been repackaged and sold under local brand names in Singapore, requesting specific brand names, supermarket locations, and a study on health effects.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) requires origin certificates and proper labeling for Japanese imports, and active surveillance has found no mislabelled or repackaged Fukushima products in Singapore.
He added that AVA has tested Japanese food since 2013 without detecting radioactive contamination, so no health study is needed as Singapore does not tolerate radioactive contaminants in food.

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14 Jul 2015

Record Sale Prices for Neighbourhood Coffee Shops

Gerald Giam raised concerns about record-high coffee shop sale prices in Bukit Batok and Hougang, asking if the government is worried about their impact on stall rentals, food prices, and speculation affecting affordable food for lower-income residents.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan responded that these transactions were private market outliers, emphasized HDB's strategy of not selling coffee shops but renting them out, maintaining sufficient supply, and building new coffee shops and hawker centres to ensure competition and affordability.
Giam pressed for the government's stance on speculation and concrete measures to prevent it, including whether HDB should buy back coffee shops; Khaw clarified the sellers were long-term operators, not speculators, and that forcing sales back to HDB is not legally feasible.
David Ong suggested a hawker centre in Bukit Batok to provide alternative affordable food options, and Khaw confirmed that one is already planned, with efforts to find a good location.

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13 Jul 2015

Proposed Building of Hawker Centres in Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang

David Ong and Zaqy Mohamad requested updates on the construction of new hawker centres in Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang respectively.
The Ministry announced at COS 2015 that 10 new hawker centres will be built by 2027, targeting underserved or new estates.
Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok have been identified as locations for these centres.
The Ministry is still in the early planning stages and will provide more details once plans are finalized.
The initiative aims to better serve residents in these constituencies with additional hawker facilities.

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13 Jul 2015

Plans to Help Long-term Hawker Stall Tenants of Current Landlords before Expiry of Hawker Centre Lease and Its Return to NEA

The government confirmed that stallholders who previously purchased 20-year leases under the Stall Ownership Scheme will see their leases expire, with NEA taking back the centres.
Hawkers who wish to continue operating can take up tenancy at NEA-managed centres at prevailing market rent, with original subsidized stall-holders paying the subsidized rate.
Current tenants renting from stall owners may participate in open tenders for over 100 vacant stalls in existing centres and more than 300 new stalls in upcoming hawker centres.

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13 Apr 2015

Warning Fish Farms of Potential Algal Blooms

The Ministry assured that AVA’s real-time monitoring provides early warnings to fish farmers about harmful algal blooms, citing an example where timely alerts helped farmers avert major fish kills.
Studies are ongoing with TMSI to investigate the causes of algal blooms in the Johor Straits, and the government is exploring solutions like closed containment systems, while relocation of farms is not yet determined.
The government is working with farmers to modernize methods and achieve the 15% local fish supply target, though the timeline is not specified and algal blooms remain a concern.

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19 Jan 2015

Reclamation of Lim Chu Kang Farm Land for Military Use

The government will reclaim Lim Chu Kang farm land for military training due to land constraints, with steps to minimize impact on agriculture, including offering new farm sites in Sungei Tengah and other areas.
New farm leases will be 10 years with potential extensions, providing greater certainty for farmers compared to previous short-term arrangements.
Affected farms have been given extended timelines to transition, with leases expiring between 2014 and 2021 accommodated to allow time for bidding or alternative plans.
The Agriculture Productivity Fund and study trips are being used to help farmers improve productivity and better utilize limited land resources.

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19 Jan 2015

Barrier-free Access for Existing Hawker Centres and Markets

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef urged the government to streamline plans for barrier-free access in hawker centres and to consider modifications like ramps and wheelchair spaces in existing facilities.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan affirmed the importance of barrier-free hawker centres, noting that new ones comply with accessibility codes while existing ones are being upgraded over time.
All hawker centres currently meet or exceed accessibility standards except for Dunman Food Centre, which faces site constraints, though efforts are ongoing to improve its accessibility.

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19 Jan 2015

Death from Food Poisoning

Dr Lee Bee Wah and Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan raised concerns about the death of a boy from food poisoning at a Northpoint food court, questioning why the case was not publicized immediately, the number of recent poisoning deaths, and measures to prevent recurrence.
The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian Balakrishnan, stated that NEA inspected the stall on the day of notification, suspended its license due to hygiene lapses, and imposed fines after court action, with no other fatalities since 2010.
The Ministry emphasized stricter enforcement, increased penalties for hygiene violations, and the importance of food handlers practicing good hygiene to ensure public safety.

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5 Nov 2014

Preventing Sharp Increase in Hawker Centre Food Prices

The government has banned the subletting of hawker stalls for new stallholders since 2012, with existing stallholders given until March 2015 to comply and become owner-operators, with limited flexibility for partnerships.
Since 2001, 106 hawker centres have been upgraded under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme, with subsidised cooked food stalls paying a fixed monthly rent of $192 or $320 after basic or major upgrades, while non-subsidised rents are based on professional valuation.
The Ministry considers hawkers' feedback before deciding on upgrades, has delayed upgrades for sold centres due to operational concerns, and stated that no further upgrades will be carried out as the programme is complete.

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3 Nov 2014

Supply and Mortality of Imported Livestock for Korban for 2014

The actual cost per imported livestock for Eid ul Adha was $499 for Australian sheep and $575 for Irish lamb, with prices factoring in origin costs, air freight, and operational expenses.
Investigations found that heat stress, due to an intermittent airflow issue on the aircraft, caused the deaths of some livestock, and MUIS incurred no financial loss as the importing company bore the costs.
The Korban operations were carried out smoothly following international animal welfare standards and procedures, with successful procurement and distribution of livestock from Australia and Ireland.
Diversification of livestock sources, including trials from Canada and imports from Ireland, is being pursued to mitigate supply disruption risks, with approved sources including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, and the USA.

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8 Oct 2014

Occupancy Rate of Leased Hawker Centre and Wet Market at Aljunied Avenue 2

The hawker centre at Block 117, Aljunied Avenue 2 currently has a 54% occupancy rate, with 87 stalls occupied and 74 vacant.
The 74 vacant stalls will be released for open tender in October 2014 to ensure a fair allocation process.
Existing stallholders can also bid for the vacant stalls if they believe it would be advantageous for them in terms of rent.
The market rents for non-subsidised stalls are determined by professional valuers, based on results from recent tenders.
The government allocates vacant stalls through open tender as the fairest method, with existing stallholders not left worse off.

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