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