Rice imported from Thailand is safe for consumption: AVA

Rice imported from Thailand is regularly inspected and sampled to ensure that it complies with food safety standards and requirements, said the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) on Friday.

A Facebook posting by a Thai television host late last week which said that rice from Thailand is tainted with toxic residue from a fumigant sparked concern worldwide.

"Our sampling tests cover a wide range of food-borne hazards including chemical contaminants like pesticide residues and heavy metals," said an AVA spokesman on Friday. AVA will also not allow food products that do not comply with the safety standards and requirements to be sold in Singapore, he added.

Singapore imports rice from various countries including India, Thailand and Vietnam. This year, it imported some 65,234 tonnes from Thailand.

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