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The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will be dissolved, with its functions being taken over by National Parks Board (NParks) and a new statutory board from April 2019, said the Ministry of National Development (MND).
In a press release on Thursday (26 July), an MND spokesman said that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), will be formed to oversee food safety and security, a function that was previously covered by AVA. It will come under the purview of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR)
The SFA will also manage food-related functions currently carried out by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). In addition, SFA will handle food-related regulations, such as licensing matters and food safety regulations across the entire chain.
“The integration will enhance regulatory oversight over all food related matters from farm to fork and further strengthen our food safety regime. It will facilitate better partnership with food businesses to develop new capabilities and solutions, and seize future opportunities,” said the MND spokesman.
Chief Executive Officer AVA Lim Kok Thai will be concurrently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (Designate) of SFA.
Plant and animal-related issues currently handled by the AVA will be taken over by NParks, which will be the lead agency for animal and wildlife management, as well as animal and plant health.
The formation of SFA and the transfer of functions to NParks will take effect from 1 April next year. Until then, AVA, NEA, HSA and NParks will continue to carry out their existing functions.
Two new agencies will also be formed under SFA and NParks to handle more specific food and animal-related matters respectively.
The National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) will consolidate the “food laboratory capabilities” of AVA, HSA and NEA. The NCFS will cover food diagnostics, and research and development in food safety to ensure that food continues to be safe for consumption.
Meanwhile, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) will be formed under NParks, to handle animal-related issues for pet owners and businesses, and animal welfare groups. It will take over AVA’s current role as the first responder for animal-related feedback.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ava-disso...y-oversee-food-safety-security-040214333.html