Food & agriculture — Topics

5 Aug 2014

Government Audit of Waste Disposal by Offshore Fish Farms

Ms Faizah Jamal queried whether the Ministry has an environment audit process for offshore fish farms' waste disposal and requested its implementation if absent.
The Minister of State responded that AVA enforces waste disposal through licensing conditions, quarterly inspections, ad hoc raids, and collaboration with the Police Coast Guard, instead of formal audits.
Following a query about a recent fish death incident at Sungei Buloh, the Minister confirmed AVA's investigation found no abnormal farm mortalities and that wild fish were affected, with further probes ongoing.
The Minister also committed to studying a US algae bloom case for precautionary measures in Singapore's context, given weather variations and potential risks.

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7 Jul 2014

Recent Lifting of Restrictions on Food Imports from Fukushima

The government lifted some restrictions on food imports from Japan based on AVA’s satisfaction with Japan’s safety measures and the absence of detected radioactive contamination since 2013.
Restrictions remain on seafood, forest products, and food from highly contaminated areas near Fukushima, with continued import controls and certification requirements.
All Japanese food imports must carry certificates of origin and evidence of surveillance testing to ensure they are free from radioactive contaminants.
AVA will continue monitoring and testing imports from Japan to uphold food safety standards.

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7 Jul 2014

Illegal Hawking

Ms Tin Pei Ling inquired about the extent of illegal hawking, actions taken against offenders, and assistance for vulnerable Singaporeans who cannot afford hawker licensing costs.
The Second Minister explained that NEA acts against illegal hawking to protect public health and prevent nuisance, with two-thirds of recent offenders being foreigners and penalties escalating from composition sums to court prosecution.
The government investigates financial circumstances of Singaporean illegal hawkers and refers them to social service offices and CDCs for job and financial assistance.

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18 Feb 2014

Waste Disposal at Fish Farms

The Minister outlined that AVA conducts quarterly inspections and night raids on all coastal fish farms, including the southern and western areas, to enforce waste disposal regulations and deter illegal dumping.
AVA explored door-to-door waste collection for eastern fish farms in 2013 but found the cost of $160 per month per farmer too high; a new jetty at Lorong Halus will soon provide a central waste disposal facility similar to the western farms' system at Lim Chu Kang.
Following recent fish deaths due to a plankton bloom, the Minister emphasized government support for farmers to improve technology, such as better aeration systems, while noting that license revocation remains a last resort for non-compliance.

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17 Feb 2014

Not-for-profit Management Model for Hawker Centres

Tin Pei Ling questioned if the Ministry would review the not-for-profit management model for hawker centres, citing feedback from associations.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan affirmed that hawker centres are social infrastructure, with all centres run on a not-for-profit basis to prevent commercial rent-seeking.
The NEA conducted a 2014 Request for Information to explore not-for-profit entities managing four hawker centres, with twelve responses under review, but no decision made yet.
If no better management model emerges, the NEA will continue to manage the four centres directly.

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12 Nov 2013

Labelling of Infant Formula Sold in Singapore

Ms Faizah Jamal asked the Minister for National Development about steps to ensure infant formula sold in Singapore is labelled according to WHO standards.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that all infant formula must comply with stringent labelling requirements aligned with Codex standards, set by WHO and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, and include detailed nutritional and handling information.
The AVA implements import controls, testing, and inspections to verify safety and labelling compliance, checking labels during the inspection and testing process.

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11 Nov 2013

New Hawker Centres

The new hawker centre in Yishun is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2016, with additional coffee shops and private food outlets planned for the area.
Stall allocation in hawker centres is conducted through open tenders open to all, without priority based on residents' location, to ensure fairness and broader opportunities.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) will assess the need for new hawker centres in existing towns based on resident needs and site availability, and new towns like Bidadari and Tengah will include food outlets.
Efforts are underway to encourage new hawkers and preserve traditional hawkerfare, including collaborations for training programs like the Hawker Master Trainer Pilot Programme.

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11 Nov 2013

Plans for Korban Livestock Supply

Australia remains the primary source for korban livestock as long as Singapore mosques meet the ESCAS animal welfare requirements, and the government will work to ensure this continues.
Alternative sources like Canada, the US, Europe, New Zealand, China, Brunei, Indonesia, and East Malaysia are being explored to prevent supply disruptions, with a trial of 500 lambs from Canada already conducted.
Future sources for korban livestock must meet Singapore’s food safety, animal health, and public health standards, and be both sustainable and affordable for the Muslim public.

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21 Oct 2013

Assistance for Hawkers in HDB Heartlands

Teo Siong Seng asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry to consider schemes for hawkers in HDB heartlands who are ineligible for existing upgrade or productivity programmes.
Lim Hng Kiang responded that SME centres, including satellite centres in CDCs, offer free advice to help hawkers re-tool, reduce manpower reliance, and improve productivity.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) is also exploring central dishwashing to enhance hawker productivity and public hygiene.

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12 Aug 2013

Impact of Malaysia's Temporary Ban on Fish Exports to Singapore

Ms Faizah Jamal raised concerns about ensuring Singapore's food security and supply in light of Malaysia's temporary ban on certain fish exports.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that the ban had minimal impact, as the affected fish species constituted less than 4% of total fish imports in 2012, and importers sourced alternatives from countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
He highlighted that Singapore's food supply remains resilient due to a diversification strategy, importing over 100 fish species from more than 60 countries to buffer against shortages and price volatility.

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9 Jul 2013

Town Councils' Role in Cleanliness of Hawker Centres

The Town Councils are legally responsible for maintaining and cleaning hawker centres, including high areas, with costs covered by service charges and no extra fees for hawkers, as per NEA’s quarterly spring-cleaning directive.
A dispute arose over whether Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) improperly sought extra payment from hawkers for high-area cleaning, with the Minister alleging its property manager denied responsibility and demanded additional charges, while AHPETC leaders denied this.
The Minister presented meeting notes and a contractor quotation as evidence of AHPETC’s mismanagement, while AHPETC argued the issue stemmed from confusion between annual high-area cleaning and quarterly spring-cleaning, with no extra charges requested.
The debate highlighted concerns about transparency and accountability, with the Minister urging AHPETC to investigate and correct its actions, while AHPETC maintained its staff acted within contractual obligations.
Both sides agreed Town Councils must ensure hawker centre cleanliness, but the core disagreement centered on interpreting responsibilities and the evidence of alleged misconduct.

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13 May 2013

Centralisation of Table Cleaning Operations of Hawker Centres

Teo Siong Seng asked if NEA can centralise all table cleaning operations in hawker centres, including HDB-owned ones, to maintain hygiene standards.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated that NEA already regulates and inspects hawker centres but currently uses a shared model: MEWR-owned centres are cleaned directly by NEA, while HDB-owned ones are managed by Town Councils and Hawker Associations.
NEA has no plans to centralise operations, as the current shared responsibility system, supported by the Enhanced Accreditation Scheme and cleaning company licensing, is expected to uphold cleanliness standards across all centres.

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13 May 2013

Import of Pigs from China

Ms Foo Mee Har inquired about Singapore's reliance on China for pig imports and whether the Huangpu River incident involving putrefying pigs threatens food security.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that Singapore does not import live pigs or chilled pork from China, with frozen pork imports from China constituting only 1.6% of total frozen pork imports.
He noted that other pork products from China, like canned and luncheon pork, undergo heat treatment to eliminate pathogens.
Khaw emphasized that the Huangpu River incident poses no threat to food security, as Singapore's AVA only approves safe import sources and enforces strict processing standards.
The AVA's integrated food safety system ensures all pork imports come from approved sources and that accredited plants use only raw materials from approved suppliers.

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12 Mar 2013

Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources)

Members raised concerns about public cleanliness, urging stricter enforcement against littering, better training for NEA officers, and community initiatives like "HABIT" to promote civic responsibility.
The Ministry updated on hawker centre policies, including new builds, lease renewals for existing hawkers, and pilot projects with social enterprises to keep food affordable.
Discussions covered public health issues such as dengue research, smoking bans, rodent control, and food hygiene standards, with the Ministry outlining ongoing efforts and improvements.
The Ministry highlighted long-term environmental strategies, including water security, waste management, air quality improvements, and climate change adaptation, emphasizing sustainable urban planning.
Members suggested enhancements to ABC Waters projects, energy conservation incentives, and recycling infrastructure, with the Ministry committing to address these in future plans.

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12 Mar 2013

Singapore's Imported Beef Products

Yee Jenn Jong asked about the sources of Singapore's beef imports, the proportion from Europe, and measures to prevent tainted European beef from entering Singapore.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary stated that 80% of beef comes from Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil, with European beef constituting less than 0.5% of the supply, primarily whole cuts from approved countries.
AVA's safety measures include accrediting import sources, restricting imports from Europe during BSE outbreaks, allowing only whole beef cuts from select European countries, and conducting inspections and tests to prevent adulteration, with no horse meat found to date.

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4 Feb 2013

Progressive Wage Requirement in Awarding of Cleaning Contracts

Mr Zainal Sapari proposed that all hawker centre cleaning contracts be awarded only to NEA-accredited companies that support the Progressive Wage Model and that standard tender specifications be adopted across all centres.
The Ministry responded that NEA already accredits cleaning contractors under the Enhanced Accreditation Scheme, which requires progressive wages starting at $1,000 per month for local cleaners.
NEA is engaging Town Councils and Hawkers' Associations to encourage them to use accredited contractors and share tender specifications, though it remains voluntary for non-NEA managed hawker centres.

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14 Nov 2012

Cleaning Fee Hikes at Hawker Centres

Baey Yam Keng questioned the justification, protection for hawkers, procurement process, and impact on cleaners' pay regarding cleaning fee hikes at nine hawker centres.
The Second Minister explained that the fee increase is due to higher costs like manpower, and phasing the hikes was agreed with hawkers to mitigate impact, while the procurement ensures cleaning companies meet accreditation standards for workers' benefits.
Seah Kian Peng asked about fee increase clarity, future fees, service improvements, and the Tray Return scheme's effect, with the Minister noting contract provisions, industry changes, and hopes for better standards and efficiency.
Lim Biow Chuan suggested centralizing cleaning contracts for cost savings and support, and the Minister considered balancing economies of scale with autonomy for hawkers.

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12 Nov 2012

Sheep Supply For Korban

The Minister confirmed that a committee will be formed to review and diversify the source of sheep for Korban, including exploring imports from Indonesia and Malaysia should Australia become unable to supply.
All imported livestock must meet AVA's strict animal health and veterinary public health requirements, with Australia and New Zealand currently accredited but suitable sources from neighboring countries not yet found.
The cost of each sheep, currently $460, includes variable expenses such as farm price, airfreight, handling, transport, permits, and logistics, with this year's increase of $21.50 due to new Australian requirements and additional resources.

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11 Sep 2012

Return of Used Utensils at Food Centres

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources highlighted that the cleaning industry is facing a significant restructuring due to a shortage of local cleaners and tightened foreign labor policies, with the goal of improving wages and working conditions through accreditation schemes and engaging reliable cleaning companies.
A refreshed tray-return initiative will be launched in the latter half of the year, involving partnerships with organizations like the Singapore Kindness Movement, to encourage patrons to return used utensils, which will require retrofitting existing hawker centers and designing new ones with appropriate facilities.
The Minister emphasized that both the government and the public must work together to improve cleanliness, stating that patrons should not consider it a paid service to leave messes and that future cleaning efforts will require more gracious behavior from customers.
Members of Parliament raised practical concerns, including the need to design hawker centers to accommodate mechanized cleaning equipment and ensure that low-wage cleaners are not adversely affected by customer tray-return initiatives.
The Minister assured that cleaners' jobs will not be lost due to increased customer participation, as there will still be a chronic shortage of cleaners in the future.

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