Risk Assessment and Surveillance Measures of Imported Food Products Following Overseas Food Safety Incidents

Ms Gho Sze Kee asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment when significant food safety incidents involving food products are reported overseas (a) whether the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) routinely reviews the risk profile and surveillance measures for the same food products and their sources imported into Singapore; and (b) what factors determine whether additional measures are taken.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) monitors food safety incidents around the world daily.

When SFA identifies food safety incidents or receives notifications of food recalls from overseas authorities, SFA will assess the risk profile of the affected food products and their sources, based on factors, such as nature and severity of the overseas food safety incident and type of population affected. Based on the risk profile, SFA will take additional measures as necessary to protect consumers, in line with its risk-based approach to ensuring food safety. This may include engaging overseas authorities for further information, recalling affected products, testing similar food products in the Singapore market and subjecting future imports of similar food to inspections and testing.