Food & agriculture

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked for an update on the AquaPolis programme, including its progress, budget utilization, and support for the fish farming industry's fingerling supply. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that AquaPolis, established by the Singapore Food Agency, NUS, and Temasek Life Sciences, aims to drive innovation and collaboration in aquaculture. AquaPolis has launched an industry consortium, secured an $18.5 million budget for a three-year R&D programme starting in 2025, and is working on improving the quality of locally produced Asian seabass through ongoing research on parasite-resistant broodstock.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked about the uptake of the Hawkers' Productivity Grant, the tracking of hawkers adopting automation and digital solutions, and plans to encourage technological adoption to reduce costs. Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that by the end of 2025, around 1,100 cooked food stallholders and 50 market stallholders have benefited from the grant, with two-thirds of stalls accepting e-payments. The Productive Hawker Centres programme supports automation through funding for centralised dishwashing, offering up to 70% in subsidies for existing centres, with implementation in 16 new and 10 existing hawker centres. NEA will continue to assess and enhance its programmes for stallholders.

Ms Poh Li San proposed a reduction in the budget for Head L of the Estimates by $100, prompting a discussion on food resilience and waste management in Singapore. Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad emphasized the importance of a multi-faceted approach to food resilience, highlighting the vulnerabilities of Singapore's food supply to external shocks. The discussion included details about initiatives such as the Singapore Food Story 2, which focuses on diversifying imports, growing local food, stockpiling, and establishing global partnerships to enhance food security. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan highlighted the government's commitment to climate adaptation and community engagement, citing practical measures being taken to enhance resilience against flooding and extreme weather events. Members expressed concerns about food waste and the need for collaboration with the restaurant sector to address rising food waste levels in Singapore.

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about the exits of several cultivated food firms, asking for an assessment of the reasons behind their lack of commercial success and the Ministry's future strategic direction for this sector in relation to food security. Grace Fu Hai Yien advised referring to a previous written response from February 2026 concerning the government's support and strategy for the alternative protein sector.

Valerie Lee asked about government funding for the lab-grown seafood sector and the updated strategy following the closure of companies like Avant Protein. Grace Fu stated that the alternative protein industry faces challenges such as high production costs and low consumer acceptance but still holds potential. The government is committed to supporting the sector through commercialization and R&D efforts. The Singapore Food Agency has invested $64 million into 21 multi-year projects to enhance capabilities in alternative proteins since 2024 under RIE2025.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat sought information from the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment regarding government support for the Sino-Singapore Jilin Food Zone, food security outcomes, and the project's operational status. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the Jilin Food Zone, established in 2008 as a private sector-led initiative, received technical assistance and training from the then-Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority for food safety and animal health. She noted that updates on the project are limited since it remains a private sector initiative.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked if importers are required to maintain product traceability systems to identify product distribution during recalls and how the government ensures recall notices reach small retailers and the public. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that during a food recall, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) directs businesses to remove affected products and ensure compliance, with checks performed afterward. Non-compliance can lead to prosecution. The SFA also issues press releases to inform the public about recalls. By 2028, importers and food businesses must maintain traceability records under the Food Safety and Security Act, with flexibility in the traceability systems they can adopt.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin queried about the average time for completing food product recalls and enforcement actions taken against retailers and importers in the last three years. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that businesses must remove recalled products within 48 hours and report back to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), which checks compliance afterward. Over the past three years, no enforcement actions were needed as all businesses complied with recall directions. However, SFA will investigate and take action if recalled products are found for sale.

Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh questioned the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the number and percentage of hawker or wet market stalls vacant for over six months, as well as NEA's intervention policies. As of December 31, 2025, about 2% of cooked food stalls and 4% of market stalls in NEA-managed centres have been vacant for more than six months. NEA monitors these vacancies and evaluates the need for intervention on a case-by-case basis, which may include allowing changes to trade types to improve stall occupancy.

David Hoe asked about updates to the monitoring program for microplastics and PFAS, specifically regarding any expansions beyond water to sediments and food, as well as any new findings. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the Singapore Food Agency, the National Environment Agency, and the Public Utilities Board have been monitoring these substances in food, drinking water, coastal waters, and sediments. She noted that there have been no recent changes to the program and that current monitoring data indicate low or undetectable levels of microplastics and PFAS.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about the integration of the aquaculture plan into the Singapore Food Story 2.0. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that the refreshed Singapore Aquaculture Plan (SAP) involves collaboration among government, academia, industry, and nature groups to enhance the aquaculture sector. The SAP supports the Grow Local pillar of Singapore Food Story 2.0. Key initiatives include the National Broodstock Centre, which provides genetically superior eggs, and the Hatchery Development and Recognition Programme, which facilitates the growth of fingerlings for farming.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin questioned how geopolitical tensions, climate change, and export restrictions impact the Global Partnerships pillar of Singapore Food Story 2.0. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that these factors have led to increased fragmentation in food supply chains, highlighting the importance of international cooperation for food trade resilience. Examples of such partnerships include memorandum agreements signed with Vietnam and Thailand to enhance rice trade and a joint feasibility study with Brunei to develop an Agri-Tech Food Zone.

Lee Hui Ying asked the Minister for Education about the number of gastroenteritis cases in schools attributed to food from central kitchen caterers, canteens, and general food outlets from January 2022 to December 2025. Desmond Lee stated that this question will be addressed in a future oral reply by the Ministry of Education on 3 February 2026. Details are expected to be provided in the Official Report regarding measures to enhance food safety following recent gastroenteritis cases in primary schools.

Diana Pang Li Yen questioned whether shophouse units can be licensed as central kitchens, the criteria for such licenses, and the adequacy of existing food hygiene safeguards. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that central kitchens must be located in designated food zone areas or approved food factories, making them ineligible for shophouse licensing. Central kitchens handle significant food processing and distribution, resulting in more frequent inspections by the Singapore Food Agency, which considers the food safety risks and track record of these operations.

Hazlina Abdul Halim raised concerns regarding the safety and nutrition of school meals following recent gastroenteritis cases at River Valley Primary School, asking about new measures to ensure food safety and recourse for breaches by catering companies. Lee Hui Ying inquired whether the Ministry of Education would support schools in finding local businesses or hawkers to provide affordable food options amid challenges in retaining canteen stallholders. Desmond Lee indicated that responses to these issues were previously addressed during a Parliamentary Sitting on February 3, 2026, and the details would be available on the Ministry of Education's website.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin raised concerns about the new Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (SAFE) framework, asking how it will improve public health safety and ensure transparency and accessibility for consumers. The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Zaqy Mohamad, explained that the SAFE framework will use a food safety grading system based on establishments' track records and will implement real-time updates through QR codes instead of physical decals to provide up-to-date information. He acknowledged the focus on risk-based inspections, stating that establishments with poor performance will face more frequent inspections and potential downgrades, while support is available for small businesses adapting to the new requirements. Multiple parliamentarians emphasized the importance of maintaining food safety and accountability for establishments, with discussions on proactive measures to prevent lapses and the need for transparent auditing processes.

Shawn Loh raised questions about differences in public satisfaction, cleanliness, and operating efficiencies between hawker centres managed by Town Councils and those managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA), as well as the possibility of a single agency managing all hawker centres. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that NEA manages hawker centres owned by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, while Town Councils manage those owned by the Housing and Development Board. Cleanliness levels can vary due to factors like centre size, age, and cleaning providers. Although there are no current plans to change management arrangements, NEA will continue to monitor cleanliness at the centres.

Fadli Fawzi asked about cases of infants consuming contaminated infant formula and the government's safety measures. Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that as of January 30, 2026, three mild cases associated with cereulide exposure have been identified, but all have recovered. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) ensures safety compliance for both imported and local infant formulas and has increased testing for cereulide following overseas recalls. The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) is collaborating with SFA and monitoring potential cereulide poisoning cases in children through healthcare providers.

Foo Cexiang raised a question regarding the need to ensure at least one budget meal option per stall at hawker centres managed by NEA in light of HDB's policy changes. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the NEA does not mandate budget meals at all hawker stalls but requires Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs) to offer value meals. SEHC operators must ensure at least one value meal is available per stall and consider operational costs in their pricing. The NEA will continue to require SEHC operators to implement measures that maintain food affordability and periodically review meal prices based on stallholder feedback.

Rachel Ong asked if the government would engage displaced food operators to address the shortage of school canteen operators and consider providing incentives for a more stable food environment for students. Fadli Fawzi raised concerns about 60 gastroenteritis cases at River Valley Primary School and requested assessments on food safety related to the Central Kitchen Meal Model. The Minister of State for Education, Jasmin Lau, stated that the Ministry is committed to ensuring access to nutritious meals and is exploring various food service models to address canteen stall shortages while maintaining safety standards. The Ministry is investigating the recent gastroenteritis incidents, emphasizing that central kitchens operate under strict licensing and food safety protocols. Multiple Members highlighted the need for improved food safety measures and potential support for individual hawkers operating in schools.