[h=2]Expect to see more Myanmar food on our dining tables?[/h]
March 23rd, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
Minister Khaw Boon Wan: Expect to see more Myanmar vegetables and seafood on our dining tables
In a blogpost last week (11 Mar), Minister Khaw Boon Wan commented that Singaporeans can look forward to having more food sources from Myanmar [Link].
Mr Khaw said, “We are particularly hopeful of Myanmar becoming a good food source for us. It is nearby and a fertile country. It used to be a major rice exporter in the past.”
He added that one possible item is vegetables.
He said, “Already, some traders in the (trade) delegation are keen to bring in chillies, to test our local market’s reception. AVA will also facilitate partnerships between Singaporean farmers and Myanmar supply chain partners.”
Mr Khaw also mentioned that another potential item is seafood.
He said, “The Myanmar seafood sector is well developed, and if prices are competitive, our traders will be keen.”
“I certainly recall growing up eating salted fish from Myanmar, then called Burma! One of my favourites then was curry salted tuna fish, with long beans.”
He added, “Myanmar holds a lot of promise… Expect to see more Myanmar vegetables and seafood on our dining tables.”
However, a simple search on the Net revealed the following information about the safety concerns of Myanmar produce. The paper ‘An Assessment of Food Control System and Development Perspective: The case of Myanmar‘ was published in the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology Journal last year:
=> Ho Jinx: You die is your own biz! I make $$$ can oready! *hee*hee*
The paper found that Mynamar’s food control system is lacking due to limited functional capacity of Myanmar FDA.
The paper said, “Regarding (Myanmar) FDA inspection, insufficient capacity is the main hindrance in implementing food control work. As mentioned above, expansion of number of qualified staffs has already been proposed to officials concerned from the current strength of 100 to 2000 staffs to be able to cover the scope of control measures also at the trade points of border routes of Myanmar.”
Because of lack of pre and post market surveillance by Myanmar authorities, food such as fish paste, picked tea leaves can sometimes be found to be contaminated with chemical Auramine O and chili powder contaminated with chemical dye Rhodamine B red color.
The paper concluded that the implementation of effective food control measures is still a demanding task for a developing country like Myanmar. Insufficient capacity and infrastructure of the related organizations are the main hindrance in implementing a proper food control system in Myanmar. Essential infrastructures such as qualified staff and laboratory equipment need to be upgraded, as well as quality of control measures.
It concluded by saying, “FDA and other related government agencies should prepare well aiming for the long term solution for food safety and quality of food produced in Myanmar.”
“Furthermore, the level of existing food control system should be paid more attention on effectiveness while covering overall food sectors.”
It sounds as if Myanmar still has some way to go before they can get their act together to have a proper food control system in place.
So, the question here for Mr Khaw is are we rushing in too fast to import food from Myanmar before they are ready?
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
In a blogpost last week (11 Mar), Minister Khaw Boon Wan commented that Singaporeans can look forward to having more food sources from Myanmar [Link].
Mr Khaw said, “We are particularly hopeful of Myanmar becoming a good food source for us. It is nearby and a fertile country. It used to be a major rice exporter in the past.”
He added that one possible item is vegetables.
He said, “Already, some traders in the (trade) delegation are keen to bring in chillies, to test our local market’s reception. AVA will also facilitate partnerships between Singaporean farmers and Myanmar supply chain partners.”
Mr Khaw also mentioned that another potential item is seafood.
He said, “The Myanmar seafood sector is well developed, and if prices are competitive, our traders will be keen.”
“I certainly recall growing up eating salted fish from Myanmar, then called Burma! One of my favourites then was curry salted tuna fish, with long beans.”
He added, “Myanmar holds a lot of promise… Expect to see more Myanmar vegetables and seafood on our dining tables.”
However, a simple search on the Net revealed the following information about the safety concerns of Myanmar produce. The paper ‘An Assessment of Food Control System and Development Perspective: The case of Myanmar‘ was published in the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology Journal last year:
Abstract—Food control measures are critical in fostering food safety management of a nation. However, no academic study has been undertaken to assess the food control system of Myanmar up to now. The objective of this research paper was to assess the food control system with in depth examination of five key components using desktop analysis and short survey from related food safety program organizations including regulators and inspectors.
Study showed that the existing food control system is conventional, mainly focusing on primary health care approach while relying on reactive measures. The achievements of food control work have been limited to a certain extent due to insufficient technical capacity that is needed to upgrade staffs, laboratory equipment and technical assistance etc. associated with various sectors. Assessing food control measures is the first step in the integration of food safety management, this paper could assist policy makers in providing information for enhancing the safety and quality of food produced and consumed in Myanmar.
The paper mentioned that in 2010, a post-market survey on food such as soft drink, pickled tea leaves, fish paste, chili powder, etc. was done. It was reported that one fish paste sample out of 147 , ten chilli powder samples out of 225, nine chili sauces out of 72 were found containing unpermitted colour dye and were publicized in the local newspapers.Study showed that the existing food control system is conventional, mainly focusing on primary health care approach while relying on reactive measures. The achievements of food control work have been limited to a certain extent due to insufficient technical capacity that is needed to upgrade staffs, laboratory equipment and technical assistance etc. associated with various sectors. Assessing food control measures is the first step in the integration of food safety management, this paper could assist policy makers in providing information for enhancing the safety and quality of food produced and consumed in Myanmar.
=> Ho Jinx: You die is your own biz! I make $$$ can oready! *hee*hee*
The paper found that Mynamar’s food control system is lacking due to limited functional capacity of Myanmar FDA.
The paper said, “Regarding (Myanmar) FDA inspection, insufficient capacity is the main hindrance in implementing food control work. As mentioned above, expansion of number of qualified staffs has already been proposed to officials concerned from the current strength of 100 to 2000 staffs to be able to cover the scope of control measures also at the trade points of border routes of Myanmar.”
Because of lack of pre and post market surveillance by Myanmar authorities, food such as fish paste, picked tea leaves can sometimes be found to be contaminated with chemical Auramine O and chili powder contaminated with chemical dye Rhodamine B red color.
The paper concluded that the implementation of effective food control measures is still a demanding task for a developing country like Myanmar. Insufficient capacity and infrastructure of the related organizations are the main hindrance in implementing a proper food control system in Myanmar. Essential infrastructures such as qualified staff and laboratory equipment need to be upgraded, as well as quality of control measures.
It concluded by saying, “FDA and other related government agencies should prepare well aiming for the long term solution for food safety and quality of food produced in Myanmar.”
“Furthermore, the level of existing food control system should be paid more attention on effectiveness while covering overall food sectors.”
It sounds as if Myanmar still has some way to go before they can get their act together to have a proper food control system in place.
So, the question here for Mr Khaw is are we rushing in too fast to import food from Myanmar before they are ready?
.
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