Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SINGAPORE712
2009-07-28 07:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
SINGAPORE CONTINUES TO DRAG FEET ON U.S. BEEF IMPORTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGP #0712 2090743 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 280743Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7001 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000712
STATE PASS USTR
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE CONTINUES TO DRAG FEET ON U.S. BEEF IMPORTS
REF: A) 08 SINGAPORE 1168; B) 08 SINGAPORE 560
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000712
STATE PASS USTR
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE CONTINUES TO DRAG FEET ON U.S. BEEF IMPORTS
REF: A) 08 SINGAPORE 1168; B) 08 SINGAPORE 560
1. (SBU) Despite suggestions of a willingness to revisit the issue
of opening Singapore's markets to imports of U.S. bone-in beef, the
GoS has made no progress on a long-promised risk assessment of beef
imports. On the sidelines of a separate meeting, Dr. Astrid Yeo,
Deputy Director of the Import & Export Division of the Agri-Food and
Veterinary Authority (AVA),suggested to EconOff that the GoS is
open to discussing changes to its policy on imports of U.S. bone-in
beef. However, Yeo said any change in policy toward U.S. beef would
ultimately affect the GoS position toward other beef exporting
nations, and therefore the GOS must first complete a total risk
assessment of all nations (Ref A and B). At an October 2008 review
of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, GOS officials had
promised to provide a timeline for completion of this assessment,
but Dr. Yeo was unable to provide any further indication of when it
would be completed. She noted that FDA regulations banning the use
of ruminant materials that recently went into effect had been a
helpful development.
2. (SBU) A lack of scientific literature is one reason that the
risk assessment has yet to be completed, according to Dr. Teng Moey
Fah, Deputy Director of Animal Health within AVA's Regulatory &
Health Planning Division. Teng suggested that any new scientific
literature that the USG could provide may help to further the risk
assessment along.
3.(SBU) Dr. Teng also noted that Singapore has a six-year "BSE Free"
policy, wherein countries that have not had a case of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in six years will not face
restrictions on imports of beef (bone-in or otherwise). The policy
was implemented circa January 2006 when the AVA began softening its
ban on de-boned beef from some affected countries. The last case of
BSE in the United States was in 2006 in Alabama; therefore,
Singapore's ban on U.S. bone-in beef would remain until 2012 absent
any further progress on the issue.
SHIELDS
STATE PASS USTR
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE CONTINUES TO DRAG FEET ON U.S. BEEF IMPORTS
REF: A) 08 SINGAPORE 1168; B) 08 SINGAPORE 560
1. (SBU) Despite suggestions of a willingness to revisit the issue
of opening Singapore's markets to imports of U.S. bone-in beef, the
GoS has made no progress on a long-promised risk assessment of beef
imports. On the sidelines of a separate meeting, Dr. Astrid Yeo,
Deputy Director of the Import & Export Division of the Agri-Food and
Veterinary Authority (AVA),suggested to EconOff that the GoS is
open to discussing changes to its policy on imports of U.S. bone-in
beef. However, Yeo said any change in policy toward U.S. beef would
ultimately affect the GoS position toward other beef exporting
nations, and therefore the GOS must first complete a total risk
assessment of all nations (Ref A and B). At an October 2008 review
of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, GOS officials had
promised to provide a timeline for completion of this assessment,
but Dr. Yeo was unable to provide any further indication of when it
would be completed. She noted that FDA regulations banning the use
of ruminant materials that recently went into effect had been a
helpful development.
2. (SBU) A lack of scientific literature is one reason that the
risk assessment has yet to be completed, according to Dr. Teng Moey
Fah, Deputy Director of Animal Health within AVA's Regulatory &
Health Planning Division. Teng suggested that any new scientific
literature that the USG could provide may help to further the risk
assessment along.
3.(SBU) Dr. Teng also noted that Singapore has a six-year "BSE Free"
policy, wherein countries that have not had a case of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in six years will not face
restrictions on imports of beef (bone-in or otherwise). The policy
was implemented circa January 2006 when the AVA began softening its
ban on de-boned beef from some affected countries. The last case of
BSE in the United States was in 2006 in Alabama; therefore,
Singapore's ban on U.S. bone-in beef would remain until 2012 absent
any further progress on the issue.
SHIELDS