ICA Seizes Illegally Imported Bak Kwa From M’sia, Advises S’poreans To Buy From Approved Retailers

[kobayashiGT]

https://mustsharenews.com/ica-imported-bak-kwa/

ICA Seizes Illegally Imported Bak Kwa & Pork Floss From Malaysia

With Chinese New Year preparations in full swing, many households are going above and beyond to celebrate the upcoming holiday.

However, some things are not worth the extra effort, especially if it means bringing them illegally into the country.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) shared a Facebook post on Thursday (20 Jan), regarding the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) recent activities.

So far, they have foiled several attempts to illegally import 169 cartons and 11 packets of bak kwa, as well as 3 cartons of pork floss from Malaysia.

SFA conducting investigations into imported bak kwa

According to the SFA, ICA had seized all the items at land checkpoints between Singapore and Malaysia.

They also clarified that no establishment in Malaysia has received approval to export bak kwa and pork floss into Singapore.

SFA will thus be conducting investigations into these illegal imports.

Illegally imported food pose a food safety risk

SFA explained that since illegally imported foods come from unknown sources, they can pose a potential safety risk.

Hence, they advise consumers to only purchase from established retailers and question suppliers regarding the products’ sources if ever in doubt.

First-time offenders found guilty of importing meat products illegally are liable to a maximum $50,000 fine and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years.

Find other ways to impress family & friends

Bak kwa is a delicacy mostly enjoyed during CNY celebrations.

As much as we want to give the very best to our friends and family, it shouldn’t come at the detriment of public food safety.

We hope that everyone can find different ways to stand out this CNY.

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Aiyo. this chinese new year, somebody don't have bak kwa at home liao.

What will ICA do to these baw kwa ah? hahahah. Incinerate meh?

 

[Kxbc]

I volunteer to be guinea pig to test eat all packets of the bak kwa. 😃

Maybe @Jamesc will volunteer his MIL. 😁

[Fitvip]

ICA has been very strict about Bak Kwa. Why people still want to try their luck?

[t0y0ta]

Why is SG still banning Malaysia pork?

This does not seem to be based on logic but more on $$

[Beregond]

11 minutes ago, t0y0ta said:

Why is SG still banning Malaysia pork?

This does not seem to be based on logic but more on $$

Its true this good avoid paying taxes, 

But its true at the same time these food dun have the proper safety check, 

[Jamesc]

I would worry more about the ones from HK.

[1fast1]

Hmm. Apart from the legality of it, importing pork from a Muslim country into a secular Chinese-majority country seems to be akin to carrying coals to Newcastle.

[Lala81]

1 hour ago, t0y0ta said:

Why is SG still banning Malaysia pork?

This does not seem to be based on logic but more on $$

U can say it's about $$$. But I guess it makes sense. Actually i never knew this until I googled it.

https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-for-thought/article/detail/diversifying-singapore's-sources-of-pork#:~:text=Imports of live pigs and,Virus (see box story).&text=In 2017%2C AVA approved the,are not free of FMD.

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A brief history

Imports of live pigs and raw pork from Malaysia were suspended in 1999 due to an outbreak of the Nipah Virus (see box story). Even though there have not been any new outbreaks of the Nipah Virus, the import of live pigs or raw pork from Malaysia remained halted for over a decade due to the presence of Foot-Mouth Disease (FMD). Only processed pork, which had been heat-treated to deactivate the FMD virus, was allowed to be brought in from Malaysia.

In 2010, the World Organisation for Animal Health recognised Sarawak as a FMD-free region in Malaysia. In 2015, AVA assessed Sarawak's animal and veterinary public health programmes, and approved the import of frozen pork from the Malaysian state. In 2017, AVA approved the import of live pigs from Sarawak as well. The import of fresh pork from other regions in Malaysia is currently still not permitted as they are not free of FMD.

The new supply source of raw pork will better buffer Singapore against potential food shortages and disruptions, and consumers can also look forward to more choices when it comes to buying fresh pork.

The Nipah Virus and Foot-Mouth Disease

The Nipah Virus (NiV) is named after the village in Malaysia where the disease claimed its first human life. NiV causes respiratory and nervous problems in pigs. It can have devastating effects on animal populations, and has since been found in domestic animal species like dogs, cats, goats, and horses. Also, it has affected humans around the world, from Malaysia and India to Bangladesh and Singapore.

In humans, NiV is marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma and potentially, death. In the 1999 outbreak in Malaysia, up to half of infected people died. There is no cure.

Foot-Mouth Disease (FMD) is another severe and highly contagious viral infection affecting cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep, as well as deer, antelope, elephants, and even giraffes. Although it is rarely fatal among adult animals, many infected young ones die of it.

FMD presents as blister-like sores on the tongue and lips of animals, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. As a consequence, infected animals are left weakened and debilitated. Humans are not susceptible to FMD, as it is not readily transmissible to us, but it seriously hampers agricultural production while the livestock recover. Importing animals or meat from FMD-affected regions would jeopardise Singapore's FMD-free status and in turn adversely affect our export trade.

 

Edited January 21, 2022 by Lala81

[Lala81]

12 minutes ago, Turboflat4 said:

Hmm. Apart from the legality of it, importing pork from a Muslim country into a secular Chinese-majority country seems to be akin to carrying coals to Newcastle.

Our fresh pork is from Pulau Bulan near Batam. So either way from MY/Indon doesnt really matter i guess.

 

[badlammy]

Where got ban? Ntuc sells Borneo fresh pork and it's from Msia.

Just have to go through SFA for foodstuffs. If you bypass that, then it's smuggling, like cigarettes.

[Somewhat1975]

Bak Kwa is processed pork. No virus can survive bak kwa's grilling process. 

even the fried chicken from KFC is not allowed to enter Sg. what kind of virus can survive under oil frying conditions?  either the AVA is a bunch of morons or the ban is politically motivated.

 

[Lala81]

17 minutes ago, Somewhat1975 said:

Bak Kwa is processed pork. No virus can survive bak kwa's grilling process. 

even the fried chicken from KFC is not allowed to enter Sg. what kind of virus can survive under oil frying conditions?  either the AVA is a bunch of morons or the ban is politically motivated.

 

i think it's just convenient.
U ban all pork and pork products from peninsula malaysia. Easier  
Anyway it's not like pork farmers in malaysia are going to lobby us for policy to change. Lol.

 

 

Edited January 21, 2022 by Lala81

[Volvobrick]

1 hour ago, Turboflat4 said:

Hmm. Apart from the legality of it, importing pork from a Muslim country into a secular Chinese-majority country seems to be akin to carrying coals to Newcastle.

https://www.todayonline.com/world/s15m-worth-live-pigs-exported-sarawak-singapore-2018

We are actually importing from them but Sarawak.

 

 

[Watwheels]

The shelf life of grilled meat is typically 3-4 days stored in the fridge.

I have to say the handling of the M'sia bak kwa is questionable.

Look at how bak kwa shops store the raw meat in freezer before taking out to grill. Even that has shelf life of 4-6months freezer storage.

Luckily US FDA has a chart on storing all your food and meats. Print this out and put on your fridge.

https://www.fda.gov/media/74435/download

Actually what we see ppl do on TV is they put the food in containers / zip-lock and labelling them with dates, it is a good practice. If you are planning to keep some food for longer use it is good to label them.

Edited January 21, 2022 by Watwheels

[Voodooman]

20 minutes ago, Somewhat1975 said:

Bak Kwa is processed pork. No virus can survive bak kwa's grilling process. 

even the fried chicken from KFC is not allowed to enter Sg. what kind of virus can survive under oil frying conditions?  either the AVA is a bunch of morons or the ban is politically motivated.

 

Yes, it is all frozen pork, even our $40-50/kg atas bak kwa is low end meat, sweetened artificially. 

Not much tax dollars involved too.

Can poison survive the grilling? 

Think Australia is also very strict on both raw and cooked meats. Curious to know why although I won't even eat too much of fresh pork while in Malaysia. 

 

[Watwheels]

46 minutes ago, Somewhat1975 said:

Bak Kwa is processed pork. No virus can survive bak kwa's grilling process. 

even the fried chicken from KFC is not allowed to enter Sg. what kind of virus can survive under oil frying conditions?  either the AVA is a bunch of morons or the ban is politically motivated.

 

Most likely the handling and transportation of the meat products are questionable. It is better to be safe than a lot of ppl get sick from eating the meat. If that happens who will take responsibility? I dont think it is about politics. The agency in charge are not morons but have to be accountable for what happens here.

FYI agencies like HSA take every sample of the food that gets imported into our island. They randomly select one sample from a batch and test its contents so that it is safe for ppl here to consume. My wife has done audit for the agency long ago. This is what they do. We take food safety for granted but as you can see there are a lot of effort being put in to make sure the food we eat are safe.

Edited January 21, 2022 by Watwheels

[Beregond]

40 minutes ago, Somewhat1975 said:

Bak Kwa is processed pork. No virus can survive bak kwa's grilling process. 

even the fried chicken from KFC is not allowed to enter Sg. what kind of virus can survive under oil frying conditions?  either the AVA is a bunch of morons or the ban is politically motivated.

 

But imagine they dun ban, and every 1 happily bring in bak kwa and pock etc etc, and food poisoning and stuff happen. The arrow will go back to them. 

 

[13177]

18 minutes ago, Watwheels said:

The shelf life of grilled meat is typically 3-4 days stored in the fridge.

I have to say the handling of the M'sia bak kwa is questionable.

Look at how bak kwa shops store the raw meat in freezer before taking out to grill. Even that has shelf life of 4-6months freezer storage.

Luckily US FDA has a chart on storing all your food and meats. Print this out and put on your fridge.

https://www.fda.gov/media/74435/download

Actually what we see ppl do on TV is they put the food in containers / zip-lock and labelling them with dates, it is a good practice. If you are planning to keep some food for longer use it is good to label them.

Best is not to keep any food for long use, just buy what is needed to cook for few days and finish cooking them. If want to cook, buy again. Lol.