VEGETABLES IMPORTED FROM MALAYSIA

Mr Ong Ah Heng asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the vegetables imported from Malaysia are safe for consumption; (b) how many cases of vegetables imported from Malaysia have been detected by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to contain pesticide levels which are below international standards since January this year; and (c) whether there are other sources of supplies of vegetables.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) inspects and tests all imported vegetables for pesticide residues and other harmful chemicals to ensure that they are safe to eat. Imported vegetables that failed these tests would be destroyed under the AVA's supervision. As such, vegetables imported from Malaysia are safe for consumption.

A total of 59,000 tonnes of vegetables was imported from Malaysia from January to April 2002. Only about 5 tonnes of these vegetables did not comply with our pesticide standards and were destroyed.

Besides Malaysia, Singapore also imports vegetables from 31 other countries, including China, Indonesia and Australia.

Mr Ong Ah Heng: Sir, the Minister of State said the sample tests on those vegetables imported from Malaysia show that there is still a good chance for Singaporeans to consume vegetables from Malaysia as their pesticide level complies with international standards. Could the Minister of State consider importing more vegetables from other sources, instead of Malaysia?

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Let me perhaps elaborate on the system which we have in place to reassure Singaporeans.

All importers are required to apply for an import permit from the AVA for each and every shipment of vegetables into Singapore. These permits are only issued to traders who are licensed by the AVA. Without a valid permit, no consignment can be imported to Singapore. These vegetables which are imported into Singapore are sampled for inspection and testing by the AVA's Veterinary Public Health Laboratory. The samples are collected when the vegetables arrive at Singapore's Pasir Panjang Vegetable Wholesale Centre. The AVA tests for pesticides and for other harmful chemicals in accordance with the prescribed protocols and the standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (this is an international food safety agency) and our own food regulations of Singapore. The intensity of these sampling tests would depend upon the past history of these types of vegetables and of the importer who has brought them in. With all these measures in place, we are sure that by the time these vegetables reach your plate, they are safe for consumption.

As to his point about diversifying our sources, we already import from 32 different countries and, although Malaysia is still our largest source of vegetables, as I said earlier, other sources include China, Indonesia and Australia and these sources have been increasing over the passage of time. So I want to reassure Singaporeans that the vegetables are safe. In fact, vegetables are good for their health in spite of what our children may say, and we have more than adequate sources for obtaining vegetables.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (East Coast): Mr Speaker, Sir, can I know how the sample tests are conducted? Do the suppliers submit the samples to you, or do you do spot checks and take them from the consignments?

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: We pick the samples at random and we send them for tests. We do not allow them to submit to us.

Mr Ang Mong Seng (Hong Kah): I would like to ask the Minister what is the percentage being imported from China. As China seems to be a huge market, can we consider importing more from China?

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: At this point in time, we import 18.36% of vegetables from China.