Food & agriculture

A proposal was introduced to consolidate and amend laws related to food safety concerning primary produce, food supply, and drinking water to enhance food security and public health in Singapore. This initiative includes repealing the Sale of Food Act 1973 and the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act 1999, along with making related amendments to other Acts. The recommendation was presented by the Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment on behalf of the Minister, with the bill set to be read a second time at the next available Sitting of Parliament.

Indranee Rajah moved for the immediate introduction of the Food Safety and Security Bill, citing a missed timeframe by Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon as the reason for the delay. The motion was put to a vote and agreed upon. The introduction of the bill was officially resolved to be taken at that time.

• Melvin Yong asked the Minister about complaints regarding merchants misrepresenting thawed frozen meat as fresh meat and what signs consumers can look for to spot such misrepresentations.
• Grace Fu stated that the Singapore Food Agency received 11 such complaints over five years, with one case leading to enforcement action and the rest found unsubstantiated.
• Food establishments must label thawed frozen meat accordingly, and consumers should check for these labels before purchasing.
• Identifying misrepresentation requires laboratory testing, and enforcement is taken if testing confirms misrepresentation.

• Desmond Choo raised concerns about ageing first and second generation hawkers struggling with long hours and suggested co-sharing stalls to optimise food services.
• The Ministry responded that the National Environment Agency already has a Joint Operator Scheme since 2012 allowing eligible stallholders to appoint joint operators to share operating hours.
• The scheme requires stallholders to personally operate their stalls without overlapping hours to prevent subletting, while allowing family members as nominees for elderly hawkers.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked about future plans for more rooftop urban farms and longer lease periods beyond three years. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that 16 multi-storey car park sites were tendered for commercial urban farming under the HDB Green Towns Programme with initial three-year tenancies. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB are evaluating factors for suitable sites and monitoring existing farms before making decisions on future tenders and lease extensions. Currently, there are no plans to introduce new tenders for commercial farming at MSCP sites, but longer-term opportunities are available through other tenders offered by SFA for larger spaces.

Leong Mun Wai requested information on the percentage of hawker stalls that terminated their rental contracts early over the past five years at both NEA-operated and Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres, as well as the reasons for those terminations. Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that the average annual early termination rates were 3% for NEA-managed hawker centres and 8% for SEHCs from 2019 to 2023. The primary reason for early termination cited by stallholders was poor business performance.

Leong Mun Wai asked about the operating surplus data for each Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre (SEHC) over the past five years. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that SEHC operators submit annual audited financial statements to the National Environment Agency (NEA), and the average annual operating surplus from 2019 to 2023 was approximately $100,000. Operators with surpluses are required to reinvest at least 50% into programs that benefit the hawker centres and stallholders, including initiatives to increase footfall and reduce operating costs for stallholders.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about potential measures to enhance the viability of farms in Lim Chu Kang, Neo Tiew, and Kranji, specifically through increased farmers' markets and improved transport connectivity. Grace Fu noted that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has already partnered with local farms and organized the "SG Farmers’ Market" to showcase local produce. The SFA has supported the creation of an online platform for farmers to reach consumers and currently has no plans for subsidized transport to farms. The agency will continue to collaborate with the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited (SAFEF) to explore further initiatives to boost demand for local produce.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye raised questions about the review of hawker centre management and the idea of a single agency overseeing all hawker centres and HDB coffee shops for better meal accessibility. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency (NEA) collaborates with other agencies in planning new hawker centres, taking into account factors like residential needs and nearby food options. The Government is dedicated to a holistic approach in managing these facilities to ensure the availability of affordable cooked food for all Singaporeans.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang raised concerns about the Singapore Food Agency's (SFA) inspections of licensed caterers for migrant workers, particularly regarding the preparation and delivery of food to comply with the four-hour consumption rule. Dr. Koh Poh Koon explained that SFA conducts inspections and timestamps food for safety, but the issue seems to stem from logistical coordination between companies and caterers rather than policy itself. Ng pointed out that food is often prepared too early, potentially exceeding the four-hour rule by the time workers receive it. Koh suggested that specific instances of issues should be reported to facilitate better communication between food providers and companies for timely food delivery.

• The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported that the median successful tender price for cooked food stalls in hawker centres was about $2,000 in 2022 and $1,800 in 2023, with about one in five stalls awarded at or below $500 a month in 2023; the government currently rejects a fixed-rate ballot model, stating the existing tender process allows lower initial rents and market adjustment after three years.
• The Ministry acknowledged concerns that high rental bids by new entrants could lead to increased food prices, but noted these are rare outliers; it plans to provide more granular rental information on the NEA website to help bidders make more considered bids and will study further measures to moderate excessive bids.
• The government will relax manpower policies from 1 January 2025 to allow hawkers to hire Long-Term Visit Pass holders with a Letter of Consent as stall assistants, but has no plans to liberalise hiring for Work Permit holders, as it aims to preserve the local identity of hawker centres and promote productivity to address manpower challenges.

Gerald Giam Yean Song raised questions regarding the criteria used by National Environment Agency (NEA) officers to assess whether elderly or disabled individuals can return trays at hawker centres. He also asked if all NEA officers and tray return ambassadors are briefed on these criteria to prevent advising or issuing summonses to such individuals, and if notices could clarify that these persons are not obligated to return trays. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that NEA does not enforce tray return for those with genuine difficulties, and all officers are trained to exercise discretion based on their observations.

• Dr Koh Poh Koon clarified that hawkers who bid high rents like $10,000 or $8,000 in their first tenancy term will keep that price for that term but will be adjusted to the assessed market rent afterwards.
• The adjusted market rent for subsequent tenancy terms is about $1,200, based on the median for non-subsidised cooked food stalls, making it more sustainable for hawkers long-term.
• This correction was issued to address a supplementary question from MP Mr Yip Hon Weng during Question Time on 9 September 2024.

• Yip Hon Weng questioned whether record hawker stall rents exceeding $10,000 per month indicate a rising trend and how this affects food affordability for Singaporeans.
• Dr Koh Poh Koon clarified that high tender prices are not the norm, with median rents at $1,800 and many stalls awarded at or below $500, and NEA uses measures like no reserve rent and disallowing subletting to keep rentals fair.
• The government provides support such as staggered rentals for new hawkers, cost certainty through management models, and rent adjustments after the first tenancy to ease financial pressure on stallholders.

• The Senior Minister of State outlined that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) sets and enforces strict hygiene standards, uses a data-driven risk-based approach, and takes action such as suspension or prosecution for violations, with a current review of penalties underway for the upcoming Food Safety and Security Bill.
• The government collaborates with sectoral agencies like the Early Childhood Development Agency and the Ministry of Health to protect vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly through specific guidelines and regulations.
• SFA implements a Points Demerit System that can lead to licence suspension or cancellation for breaches and may suspend operations of businesses involved in foodborne illness outbreaks to contain spread.
• The debate emphasized a shared responsibility for food safety, where industry and consumers also play a role by adopting safe practices and vigilant food choices.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim raised concerns about the liquidation or scaling down of high-tech farms in Lim Chu Kang and Tuas, questioning whether the Singapore Food Agency is studying the reasons behind these issues despite government support. He also asked about the impact of these farm closures on Singapore's "30 by 30" goal, which aims to produce 30% of the nation's nutritional needs by 2030. Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that these issues will be addressed together with similar questions in an upcoming Parliament Sitting on 7 August 2024 for a comprehensive response.

Edward Chia Bing Hui questioned the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the possibility of allowing Long-Term Visit Pass Plus holders to work as hawker assistants to alleviate manpower shortages. Grace Fu Hai Yien clarified that only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can be stallholders and stall assistants at NEA-managed hawker centres, with the exception being the spouses of stallholders who hold Long-Term Visit Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass Plus with the appropriate permissions. The restrictions aim to preserve the local identity of hawker culture.

The Singapore parliament debated the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill, emphasizing its aim to reduce food waste and aid food-insecure communities by providing legal protection for food donors. Many members expressed support for the bill, highlighting the importance of encouraging donations from businesses and individuals while ensuring food safety standards are met. Suggestions included the introduction of tax incentives for food donations, public education on food donation processes, and the establishment of guidelines for safe food handling. Various members shared personal experiences and encouraged further collaboration between government agencies, food charities, and communities to foster a culture of food sharing and responsibility.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye sought an update on Singapore's "30 by 30" goal for local food production and concerns regarding delays from recent farm closures. Dr. Koh Poh Koon acknowledged challenges such as COVID-19 impacts, rising costs, and geopolitical tensions affecting the agri-food sector but highlighted ongoing support initiatives, including the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund to enhance sustainability and productivity. He reported that local production in certain sectors, like eggs and beansprouts, is already exceeding targets, while maintaining that overall progress toward the "30 by 30" goal remains a collective effort amid uneven sector development. Suggestions for utilizing the ACT fund to help offset operating costs for farms and to aggregate demand for local produce from hawkers were discussed, with a willingness to explore partnerships and long-term contracts.

• Leong Mun Wai asked how many Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres have charged hawkers liquidated damages for not opening, whether NEA-operated centres do the same, why SEHCs are allowed to impose such charges, and the annual numbers since 2020.
• Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that NEA does not manage SEHC tenancies but SEHC operators include liquidated damages clauses in agreements to ensure centres serve the community and provide affordable food, deterring breaches like failing to open.
• Since 2020, one SEHC operator has charged three hawkers liquidated damages after repeated reminders and engagement for not opening for extended periods without valid reasons, to ensure fairness to compliant tenants.