- Singapore does not import pork from Taiwan currently. Singapore has not allowed the import of pork from Taiwan since 22 Mar 1997 when there was an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Taiwan. This ban has not been lifted.
- FMD is different from the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) which affected some children here. FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. It is caused by a virus. Its symptoms in affected animals include high fever, loss of appetite and excessive salivation. It produces blisters in the mouth, on the tongue and the snout, and in between the hooves. When the blisters break, ulcers are formed. It is a very painful condition. Because of the blisters, the animals stop feeding and suffer from extreme lameness.
- The disease cannot be passed to humans through eating meat. AVA does not allow the import of meat and meat products from FMD countries. This is to protect Singapore's FMD-free status and our agri-business trade.
- FMD causes economic losses to the farmers and the country. Livestock and products from the affected country will not be accepted by importing countries because of the highly contagious nature of the disease. The infection is spread through contact with contaminated or infected livestock products and with the infected animals. The infection can also be air-borne.
- Last year, a total of 318,000 pigs, 28,000 tonnes of frozen pork and 24,000 tonnes of chilled pork were imported into Singapore from approved sources. Major pork exporting countries to Singapore are Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, China, Denmark and France.
Issued by Agri-food & Veterinary Authority
on 27 Feb 2001
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