- With immediate effect, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has suspended the import of meat from the United Kingdom into Singapore due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in UK. This suspension affects pork, mutton and game meats. Poultry and game meats of avian origin are not covered by the suspension. The EU has also placed restrictions on UK meats. Beef from the UK continues to be banned from Singapore due to Mad Cow Disease.
- 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 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's suspension on meat from the UK 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 air-borne and animals usually get infected through contaminated infected livestock products and contact with the infected animals.
- In 2000, a total of 4,425 tonnes of frozen pork valued at $11 millionwas imported from UK. This represented only 6% of Singapore’s pork supply.
- 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 other approved sources.
Issued by Agri-food & Veterinary Authority
on 22 Feb 2001
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