The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will have a new chief executive officer from Oct 1.

Current Deputy Commissioner of Police (Policy) Lim Kok Thai will take over the reins from Ms Tan Poh Hong, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said yesterday.

Ms Tan will be retiring from public service.

Under her eight-year tenure, the agency has moved beyond a regulatory role, strengthening food security by forging strong partnerships with the industry and stakeholders, the statement said.

The Agriculture Productivity Fund and other initiatives transformed Singapore's farming landscape, pushing agriculture innovation and supporting private sector urban food solution projects.

These efforts led to the Republic's climb from 16th position to third on the Global Food Security Index between 2013 and last year, it added.

Ms Tan also led efforts to review and strengthen legislation that raised animal welfare standards.

She served at the Housing and Development Board (HDB) for almost 28 years prior to her appointment at AVA.

Mr Lim, 44, first joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1996 as an assistant superintendent of police.

He has held various key positions, including commander of Bedok Police Division and director of operations of the SPF.

He also held the post of assistant director in MND's Housing Division from 1999 to 2001, and was senior director of the National Security Coordination Centre under the National Security Coordination Secretariat in the Prime Minister's Office in 2014.

He has thus accumulated vast operational and policy experience.

In its statement yesterday, MND thanked Ms Tan for her many years of dedicated service and welcomed Mr Lim to the AVA and the MND family.