Australia will remain our primary source for livestock for korban

Question

Mr Zainal Sapari: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what are the long-term plans for the supply of livestock for korban in Singapore; (b) whether Singapore is able to continue importing livestock from Australia; and (c) whether there are plans to continue looking for alternative sources of korban livestock, other than Canada, that are more affordable and sustainable.

Response

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Currently, livestock for korban is imported from Australia because of the reasonable price and close proximity to Singapore. The Australian Government introduced the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) last year to ensure that livestock exported from Australia are treated in accordance to international animal welfare standards. I am pleased to say that the 16 mosques which took part in audit exercises last year satisfied the ESCAS requirements and were hence allowed to import livestock from Australia for the recent korban. 

Australia will remain our primary source for livestock for korban, provided our mosques can continue to meet the ESCAS requirements. We will work closely with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to ensure this. 

At the same time, MUIS and the Jawatankuasa Korban Masjid-Masjid Singapura (JKMS) have been working on developing other sources to prevent any unforeseen disruption of supply for korban should there be changes in the regulations affecting the export of livestock from Australia. The Joint Korban Review Committee, comprising officers from MUIS, MCCY and AVA, had explored sources in Canada, the United States of America, Europe, New Zealand, China, Brunei, Indonesia and East Malaysia. A combination of different factors affects whether sources are suitable, such as cost, logistics, as well as animal and public health requirements. As part of a trial this year, the JKMS procured a small quantity of 500 lambs from Canada. 

Going forward, the Joint Korban Review Committee will continue to explore other sources for korban. These sources will need to meet our food safety, animal health and public health standards; and must be sustainable as well as affordable to the Muslim public.