2002/03 Annual report - Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore

These surveillance programmes enable AVA to maintain a
database monitoring the safety level of food originating from
the various sources. In addition to existing routine surveillance
programmes, AVA continually includes new programmes or
intensifies checks as and when need arises.
In particular, AVA kept a close watch on
Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen that
could be potentially fatal. In FY02/03,
four out of 300 consignments of smoked
fish checked were rejected due to the
presence of this pathogen.
Pigs slaughtered at Buroh Lane Abattoir
were subjected to the drug residue and
parasitology monitoring programme. A
total of 832 kidney samples were sent
to the Veterinary and Public Health
Laboratory (VPHL) for drug residue
laboratory tests, out of which, more than
90% passed the tests. Of the 500 urine
samples collected for beta-agonist tests,
none was found positive. A total of 590
samples of diaphragm from slaughtered
pigs were found to be free from Trichinella
spiralis parasite.
In FY02/03, in addition to the routine tests
for harmful pathogens and drug residues
in poultry slaughterhouses, samples were
collected for microbiological analysis in
order to assess the hygiene of the ice used
by the poultry slaughterhouses. A study
was also initiated to measure the microbial
load of poultry livers at various stages of
processing.
A special surveillance programme was
carried out from April to July 2002 to
check for the use of stevioside, an artificial
sweetener prohibited for use in food in
Singapore. A total of 1,657 processed
foods were checked, out of which 11
were found to contain stevioside.
Apart from ensuring the wholesomeness
of processed food in Singapore, AVA also
conducted safety assessments on foodcontact
substances and articles. In
FY02/03, studies on the residual
bisphenol A (BPA) in and migration of
BPA from polycarbonate baby milk
bottles, and migration of N-nitrosamines
and N-nitrosatable substances from
baby rubber teats were conducted. All
the products surveyed met international
standards.
AVA conducts dietary assessments of
food additives and contaminants based
on local food consumption data to
ensure that exposure to these additives
and contaminants fall within acceptable
levels. In FY02/03, the dietary intake
assessments of sulphur dioxide and
benzoates were conducted by AVA and
showed no risk to human health at the
current levels of food consumption. Future
assessments will include sorbic acid, lead
and acrylamide in high temperature
cooked carbohydrate-rich food.
AVA also plans to look into the basematerials
and plasticisers present in
cling wraps as well as carry out studies
on styrene monomers in disposable
expanded polystyrene food containers.
Laboratory Testing for Swift Detection of
Food Safety Problems
Laboratory testing is critical to the
effectiveness of AVA’s food safety
monitoring and surveillance programmes.
AVA’s VPHL received its ISO/IEC 17025
certification in May 2002 and has the
capability to perform a comprehensive
Samples from vegetable and fruit
consignments are collected for
screening of pesticide residues
and chemical and microbial
contaminants.
range of tests using cutting-edge
technology to enhance its diagnostic
capabilities.
A total of 977,857 tests were conducted
on 61,633 samples of imported and
locally-produced food to detect microbial
pathogens, antibiotics, growth promotants,
hormones, pesticide residues and chemical
additives and contaminants that are harmful
to public health.
The VPHL sources for and embarks
on relevant research and methods
development in a continuous quest to
enhance its capability and efficiency in
detecting an ever-increasing list of food
contaminants and newly emerging food
pathogens. A total of 17 new testing
capabilities were developed in FY02/03
including the detection of the Hepatitis
A virus by Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) technology.
GM food crops are made available to our
local population through imported food
products. To ensure that the GM food in
Singapore is produced from permitted GM
crop varieties, AVA plans to develop GM
food testing capabilities. In FY02/03, work
was done to establish the capability for
detection and quantitative analysis of
transgenic gene matter in GMO corn in
processed products using Real-Time PCR.
As an import/export testing and
certification laboratory, VPHL actively
seeks accreditation to international
standards to provide assurance to our
regulatory counterparts. Following
the Singapore Accreditation Council
Singapore Laboratory Accreditation
Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) second
surveillance assessment of seven Branches
in the VPHL, all seven Branches were
recommended for upgrading to ISO
17025. The ISO/IEC 17025 certification
was granted to VPHL in May 2002. VPHL
also participates actively in inter-laboratory
Proficiency Testing Schemes provided by
organisers in countries such as Australia,
New Zealand, United States and United
Kingdom.
Construction work on the new Veterinary
and Public Health Centre that commenced
in July 2002 continued through FY02/03.
Upon completion, the building will provide
the facilities necessary for optimal
laboratory and food inspections, as well
as the development of food safety testing
functions.
Over and above its role in supporting
AVA's food safety programme, the VPHL
also provides analytical services to the
local food industry as well as other
government bodies. The laboratory
provides testing and certification services
for the export of meat, fish and dairy
products to other countries. Health
certificates were issued to facilitate the
export of meat, fish and dairy products
to more than 40 countries.
Enforcement Activities
There were 111 cases of illegal import of
meat and seafood products in FY02/03.
Of these cases, three persons were
prosecuted in Court, 69 persons were
offered composition fines and the rest
were issued written warnings.
In addition a total of 157 notices of offer
of composition fines to offenders were
issued in FY02/03. About 7.6% of these
were for offenders found operating
processing establishments or processing
of meat or fish products without a licence.
The other 92.4% notices were issued
to operators of licensed processing
establishments and slaughterhouses for
non-compliance of licensing conditions.
Continual efforts are made by
AVA to approve and accredit new
sources of primary produce with
high hygiene and food safety
standards so that the nation will
enjoy resilient food supply.
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