Food imports go through AVA lab tests before
being sold
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
| Posted: 28 November 2009 1920
hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore imports over 400,000 tonnes of
fresh fruits and vegetables every year. These are checked by the
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to make sure they are safe
for consumption.
The Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market is where most of Singapore's
fruit and vegetable imports end up before being sold. Every day,
random samples from over ten varieties are taken to AVA's labs to
be tested.
Some greens are seen as carrying a higher risk of contamination
than others.
Dr Paul Chiew, deputy director, Veterinary Public Health, AVA,
said: "Especially those that are leafy in nature and those crops
that tend to be susceptible to be attacked by insects.
"For such crops, if farmers don't follow good agricultural
practices, they tend to apply pesticides not according to the
recommended label instructions and frequency."
At the AVA labs, each sample is first processed, then analysed for
over 150 types of chemicals, hormones and harmful bacteria. Last
year, the authority tested over 11,000 samples, of which 180 did
not make the cut.
"While the samples are being analysed in the laboratories, the
consignment of vegetables that our officers have sampled is
detained at the importer's cold stores. In the event that the
laboratory results are not satisfactory, this consignment will be
rejected and condemned," said Dr Chiew.
Apart from greens, meat and seafood imports are also inspected
before they hit the market. Meat is given particular attention
because animals such as pigs and chickens are believed to carry
diseases that can spread to humans.
The AVA has a network of overseas suppliers who are required to
produce health certificates from the country of origin before their
items can enter Singapore.
- CNA/so