PORK STALL HOLDERS (USE OF CHILLERS)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Harun A. Ghani asked the Minister for the Environment (a) if he will give some indication of the response by stall holders to the Government's policy requiring them to sell meat in chillers; and (b) whether there has been reservation by customers in accepting chilled meat sold in markets.

The Minister for the Environment (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Speaker, Sir, pork stall holders appear to be generally happy with the use of chillers to retail fresh pork. Some have indicated that their volume of sale has increased. They are now able to sell fresh chilled pork obtained from approved farms overseas whereas in the past they could only sell fresh pork slaughtered in the abattoirs in Singapore.

The public have also taken the chilled meat system well. They have found the chiller system to be cleaner and more hygienic.