VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHGP #1120 1620959
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110959Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3345
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 5206
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 4580
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 3036
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 7379
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001120
SIPDIS
USDA FAS FOR OSTA
MANILA FOR APHIS AREA DIRECTOR
JAKARTA FOR APHIS
BANGKOK FOR APHIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU EAGR TBIO ETRD ECON SN MY
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE BANS EGGS AND POULTRY PRODUCTS FROM MALAYSIA'S
SELANGOR STATE
REF: A) KUALA LUMPUR 995 B) 06 SINGAPORE 539
1. Singapore banned all imports of live poultry, fresh poultry
products, and eggs originating from Malaysia's Selangor State on
June 6 after the GOM announced an outbreak of avian influenza (AI)
(ref A). The ban does not affect imports from Malaysia's other
states nor does it affect heat-treated poultry products. These
measures are in accord with OIE (World Organization for Animal
Health) guidelines. As a precautionary measure, Singapore's
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has increased surveillance
and inspections at the country's entry points and at domestic
poultry farms and slaughterhouses. AVA imposed a similar AI-related
ban on Selangor's poultry and eggs from February 20 to June 28, 2006
(ref B).
2. The media reports prices have increased one cent per egg since
the ban was announced, but factors other than the AI outbreak, such
as rising feed costs, may be to blame for the rise. Singapore
imports over three million live birds and over eighty million eggs
from Malaysia each month, according to AVA. However, the ban's
effect on the egg and poultry market should be minimal, given that
94 percent of eggs and 99 percent of poultry imported from Malaysia
originate from currently AI-free states.
3. Comment: Eggs (not to mention poultry) are a staple of the
Singaporean diet, with more than three million consumed every day.
If AI outbreaks occur in other Malaysian states, the effect on local
prices and availability would be substantial. Singapore and
Malaysia have previously discussed, but not finalized, a
compartmentalization scheme which might allow imports from these
states to continue. Post will continue to closely monitor and report
on the situation. End comment.
HERBOLD