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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 27, 2008
MELAMINE SCARE
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Safety controls in place, says AVA
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the letters on the safety of milk and milk products on Tuesday.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has in place a stringent import control system to ensure that food imported into Singapore is safe.
Singapore imports a diverse range of processed food products from many sources. The authorities in the exporting countries are required to conduct inspection and testing to certify that the products meet our stringent food safety requirements. Similarly, AVA conducts the necessary inspections and health certification for products exported from Singapore to meet the import requirements of importing countries. This is an established international practice to facilitate trade in safe food products.
In the case of imported milk, AVA approves only milk products manufactured in establishments regulated by the authority in the country of origin. Imported infant formula products are further required to be accompanied by a health certificate and a laboratory test report for compliance with AVA requirements. In addition, AVA conducts verification checks of infant formula and milk products upon arrival to ensure they comply with our food safety standards. The products are tested for hazards known to be normally associated with milk through contamination during production and distribution chain. These include bacterial pathogens. heavy metals and antibiotic residues.
Melamine is not allowed for use in food. Until the recent melamine contamination incidents of milk in China, melamine was not a hazard associated with milk and not routinely tested in food safety screening by authorities worldwide.
As soon as the contamination incidents in China were made known, AVA intensified checks on the potential contamination of milk and milk products from China with melamine and took timely interventions to manage the risk and safeguard consumers. Singapore is the first country to suspend the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China on Sept 19.
We would like to reassure consumers that public health risk is low as the levels of melamine detected in the affected products are low and hence unlikely to result in adverse health effects. Consumers have to consume large amounts of contaminated products over a prolonged period of time to have any potential ill effects on health. However, consumers are advised not to consume any milk or milk products from China.
Consumers can visit AVA's website at www.ava.gov.sg for more details. Goh Shih Yong
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
for Chief Executive Officer
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
MELAMINE SCARE
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Safety controls in place, says AVA
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the letters on the safety of milk and milk products on Tuesday.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has in place a stringent import control system to ensure that food imported into Singapore is safe.
Singapore imports a diverse range of processed food products from many sources. The authorities in the exporting countries are required to conduct inspection and testing to certify that the products meet our stringent food safety requirements. Similarly, AVA conducts the necessary inspections and health certification for products exported from Singapore to meet the import requirements of importing countries. This is an established international practice to facilitate trade in safe food products.
In the case of imported milk, AVA approves only milk products manufactured in establishments regulated by the authority in the country of origin. Imported infant formula products are further required to be accompanied by a health certificate and a laboratory test report for compliance with AVA requirements. In addition, AVA conducts verification checks of infant formula and milk products upon arrival to ensure they comply with our food safety standards. The products are tested for hazards known to be normally associated with milk through contamination during production and distribution chain. These include bacterial pathogens. heavy metals and antibiotic residues.
Melamine is not allowed for use in food. Until the recent melamine contamination incidents of milk in China, melamine was not a hazard associated with milk and not routinely tested in food safety screening by authorities worldwide.
As soon as the contamination incidents in China were made known, AVA intensified checks on the potential contamination of milk and milk products from China with melamine and took timely interventions to manage the risk and safeguard consumers. Singapore is the first country to suspend the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China on Sept 19.
We would like to reassure consumers that public health risk is low as the levels of melamine detected in the affected products are low and hence unlikely to result in adverse health effects. Consumers have to consume large amounts of contaminated products over a prolonged period of time to have any potential ill effects on health. However, consumers are advised not to consume any milk or milk products from China.
Consumers can visit AVA's website at www.ava.gov.sg for more details. Goh Shih Yong
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
for Chief Executive Officer
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
