Singapore’s chicken importers will diversify and increase their supplies from alternative sources amid Malaysia’s upcoming ban on the export of the poultry.
In a statement on Monday night (23 May), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it is working with importers to reduce the impact on chicken supply due to the Malaysian ban.
- The importers will increase supplies of chilled chicken from alternative sources and frozen chicken from existing non-Malaysian sources or draw from their stocks of poultry, SFA added.
While there are temporary disruptions to the supply of chilled chicken, frozen chicken options are available to deal with the shortfall, according to SFA.
Of Singapore’s chicken imports totaling almost 73,000 tonnes last year, about a third were from Malaysia. Almost all of the Malaysian imports were live chickens, which were slaughtered and chilled in Singapore.
“We strongly encourage consumers to play their part by being open to switching choices within and across food groups (such as consuming frozen chicken instead of chilled) as well as other sources of meat products,” said SFA, adding that it advises consumers to buy only what they need.
The statement comes after Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced earlier Monday that the country would stop the export of 3.6 million chickens a month from 1 June in a bid to stabilize production, as prices of the poultry soared.
The Cabinet agreed on this on Monday (May 23) as a short-term measure for the ongoing chicken shortage issue, he said.
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