Immediate Suspension of import of meat and milk and milk products
- With immediate effect, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has suspended the import of meat from The Netherlands into Singapore due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the country. The Ministry of the Environment (ENV), likewise has suspended the import of milk and milk products manufactured on or after 1 Mar 01 from The Netherlands. These products include pasteurised milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and butter. Mayonnaise, chocolates, biscuits, evaporated milk, UHT milk and sterilised milk will not be affected by the suspension. Other milk and milk products which are manufactured using double pasteurised milk or are of pH less than 6, are also not affected by the suspension.
- In 2000, 7.63 % of milk and milk products were imported into Singapore from The Netherlands. The suspension is unlikely to affect the supply of milk and milk products in Singapore as most of the supply is from Australia and New Zealand.
- The AVA suspension will cover pork, mutton and game meats. Beef from The Netherlands has already been and continues to be suspended due to BSE (Mad Cow Disease). Dutch exports of poultry and game poultry will not be affected. No mutton or game meats were imported from The Netherlands since last year. Last year, 7,000 tonnes of frozen pork valued at $20 million were imported from The Netherlands. This constituted 9.6% of our total pork supply.
- In 2000, a total of 318,000 pigs, 28,000 tonnes of frozen pork and 24,000 tonnes of chilled pork were imported into Singapore. Pigs were imported from Pulau Bulan, Indonesia. Australia is a major exporter of chilled pork to Singapore. Denmark, New Zealand and USA also supply chilled pork to Singapore. Australia, China, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada, USA, Belgium and Hungary are approved sources which supplied frozen pork to Singapore.
- AVA would like to assure the public that there will not be a shortage of pork. The pork imported from the suspended countries was frozen pork, which was destined mainly for manufacturing. Although AVA has suspended several countries due to Foot and Mouth Disease, there are still 13 other countries (namely, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and USA) that have been approved to export pork to Singapore. These alternative accredited sources can replace the shortfall in import of frozen pork from The Netherlands.
- The suspension of imports of meats from The Netherlands will not affect beef and mutton supply. In 2000, a total of 14,000 tonnes of beef were imported into Singapore mainly from Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Also, 9,600 tonnes of mutton were imported into Singapore virtually all from Australia and New Zealand.
- FMD, which does not affect humans, is different from the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which affects humans. 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 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 consuming meat or milk. AVA and ENV's suspension on meat and milk and milk products from The Netherlands 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. Animals usually get infected through infected livestock products and contact with the infected animals. The transmission of the disease can also be air-borne.
Issued jointly by Agri-food & Veterinary Authority and the Ministry of Environment
22 Mar 2001
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