FIRM’S EGG EXPORTS TO S’PORE HALTED
Exports from other Malaysian farms to Singapore and supplies for local market unaffected
THE Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, through the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), has issued a temporary suspension order on egg exports from a company in Jeram, Selangor, to Singapore.
Deputy Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah said the order was issued immediately to enable an investigation into the cause of the presence of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) bacteria.
“The temporary suspension does not affect the export from other poultry farms in the country to Singapore and supplies for the local market.
“During this period, VSD conducted a visit and sampling to identify the source of the SE bacteria on all farms (poultry and eggs) belonging to the company to ensure that the eggs produced by its farms are safe,” he said yesterday.
He said the investigation was aimed at tracing the source of the SE infection, apart from conducting disease investigations, checking vaccination records, egg production and records of disease surveillance programmes at the farms.
Ahmad said environmental tests for cloacae, animal feed, drinking water and eggs were also conducted.
“There are 10 poultry farms consisting of two pullet farms and eight-layer chicken farms owned by the company, but only one farm, CES 008, exports eggs to Singapore.
“As a result of the meeting with the company today (yesterday), VSD was informed that 100 per cent of the eggs produced from the CES 008 farm are for export to Singapore.
“The company agreed to implement corrective actions and more frequent monitoring as well as improve biosecurity controls.”
The Singapore Food Agency on Saturday directed several importers to recall these eggs, which have the farm code “CES008” on them, after discovering the presence of SE, which may cause illness if food is consumed raw or undercooked.
VSD, in an earlier statement on its Facebook page, said the suspension of egg exports to Singapore from Lay Hong Bhd farm in Jeram, Selangor, would not affect the supply for the local market.
It said that it did not allow the re-entry of CES 008 recalled eggs into Malaysia.
The department said there were more than 2,000 species of salmonella and the SE species could cause food poisoning.
“SE, however, can be destroyed by fully cooking the food.
“Symptoms in humans due to SE infection include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever.”