OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR POULTRY PRODUCTS

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Law and National Development what efforts have been made by the Primary Production Department in the promotion of overseas markets for poultry products.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Primary Production Department is essentially a technical department whose efforts are directed towards assisting farmers to produce better livestock and better crops. Export promotion is not one of its functions. However, the Department is in constant touch with the Economic Development Board, Intraco, and exporting firms to encourage export of our livestock products.

The most important prerequisite of export promotion is, of course, to maintain a high standard of our products. Towards this end, the Primary Production Department insists on certain veterinary health standards to ensure that poultry and other livestock products are wholesome and that processing and canning factories comply with certain hygienic standards. As a result, our poultry products are allowed entry into and exported to several countries, like Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.