IMPORT OF LIVE PIGS FROM THAILAND

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development whether it is proposed to import live pigs from Thailand, and, if so, what is the rationale behind the move as local supply is reportedly more than adequate to meet demand and the price of pork has remained reasonable.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, although we are presently self-sufficient in pork, we cannot maintain this status in the long term. Land presently under farming will increasingly have to make way for other development. Even in the Punggol pig-farming area, land may have to be reallocated for other development in 15 to 20 years' time. Meanwhile, the consumption of pork will increase with increasing affluence and population growth. We are, therefore, looking for alternative sources of pork from abroad.

We hope that Southern Thailand will eventually become a major source of supply. However, in the next few years, it is unlikely that there will be a large supply of pork coming from Southern Thailand. The Sing Thai Farm, for example, will only be able to export 2,000 pigs by the end of this year. This is less than one day's consumption of pork in Singapore.

We will also be encouraging the importation of frozen pork from countries free from infectious animal diseases to ensure a wide range of supply at competitive prices.