This is based on checks conducted when the pork first arrived in Singapore. The AVA does regular testing of imported meat and meat products for contaminants such as dioxins, antibiotics, pesticides, E coli, and salmonella.

On why AVA still ordered a recall and ban on Irish pork on Sunday, its spokesman Goh Shih Yong said it a precautionary move.

He explained that testing procedures would only use selected samples from every batch. To be safe, AVA is planning to destroy all recalled Irish pork.

The AVA is also currently tracking down manufactured products that may use Irish pork.

Since Sept 1, Irish pork imports into Singapore have been mainly pork bone and other products like pork shoulder, pig snout and rectum destined for manufacturing.

Importers said that Irish pork imports are sometimes used for food like pork buns, bak kwa (barbecued meat slices), and sausages, although manufacturers usually use pork products from other countries such as Brazil, the United States and Canada.

The AVA said that only 'high level exposure over a prolonged period' to dioxins would have any significant effect on one's health, but still advised members of the public to avoid consuming any Irish pork product bought here or during visits to Ireland or overseas.

Dioxins are unwanted by-products of industrial processes such as the incineration of hazardous wastes and production of certain pesticides, toxic chemicals and plastics. The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded in 1997 that dioxins causes cancer in humans.