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Singapore: Food (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will allow the use of Pathogen Reduction Treatments on meat

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In brief

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has announced that the Food (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will make changes to the existing Food Regulations, to allow the use of Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs) on meat. The amendments will come into operation on 31 July 2022.

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Food business operators should be aware of the requirements for the use of PRTs and exercise care in adhering to the guidelines set out in the Seventeenth Schedule of the amended Food Regulations.

It should also be noted that PRTs are not to be used as a replacement for proper hygiene practices.

In more detail

The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will amend the Food Regulations to allow the use of PRTs on meat by inserting a new regulation 27A which sets out the requirements for the use, manufacture, importation, selling, advertisement, consignment and delivery of meat containing PRTs.

PRT refers to any antimicrobial substance that when applied on food, reduces the food’s microbial load. The SFA has also provided that PRTs are generally used in the form of a rinse, dip, spray or wash on carcasses and meat cuts at various points in the slaughterhouse or meat cutting plant.

From 31 July 2022, the SFA will allow the application of certain PRTs listed in the new Seventeenth Schedule of the Food Regulations on meat. The Seventeenth Schedule sets out the permitted PRTs and their maximum permitted levels for the types of meat listed. This applies to both imported meat as well as meat produced by SFA-licensed meat deboning and cutting plants, and slaughterhouses.

Establishments using PRTs are required to maintain proper records of PRT usage and keep the records for at least six months after the date of use.

The SFA’s circular may be found here.

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Andy Leck is the head of the Intellectual Property and Technology (IPTech) Practice Group and a member of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Singapore. He is a core member of Baker McKenzie's regional IP practice and also leads the Myanmar IP Practice Group. Andy is recognised by reputable global industry and legal publications as a leader in his field. He was named on "The A-List: Singapore's Top 100 lawyers" by Asia Business Law Journal 2018. In addition, Chambers Asia Pacific notes that Andy is "a well-known IP practitioner who is highlighted for his record of handling major trade mark litigation, as well as commercial exploitation of IP rights in the media and technology sectors. He's been in the industry for a long time and has always been held in high regard. He is known to be very fair and is someone you would like to be in the trenches with you during negotiations." Furthermore, Asian Legal Business acknowledges Andy as a leading practitioner in his field and notes that he “always gives good, quick advice, [is] client-focused and has strong technical knowledge for his areas of practice.” Andy was appointed by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as an IP Adjudicator to hear disputes at IPOS for a two-year term from April 2021. He has been an appointed member of the Singapore Copyright Tribunal since May 2010 and a mediator with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. He is also appointed as a Notary Public & Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore. He previously served on the International Trademark Association’s Board of Directors and was a member of the executive committee.

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Ren Jun Lim is a principal with Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. He represents local and international clients in both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters. He also advises on a full range of healthcare, as well as consumer goods-related legal and regulatory issues. Ren Jun co-leads Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow's Healthcare as well as Consumer Goods & Retail industry groups. He sits on the Law Society of Singapore IP Committee and on the Executive Committee of the Association of Information Security Professionals. He is also a member of the Vaccines Working Group, Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, a member of the International Trademark Association, as well as a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Association. Ren Jun is ranked in the Silver tier for Individuals: Enforcement and Litigation and Individuals: Prosecution and Strategy, and a recommended lawyer for Individuals: Transactions by WTR 1000, 2020. He is also listed in Asia IP's Best 50 IP Expert, 2020, recognised as a Rising Star by Managing IP: IP Stars, 2019 and one of Singapore's 70 most influential lawyers aged 40 and under by Singapore Business Review, 2016. Ren Jun was acknowledged by WTR 1000 as a "trademark connoisseur who boasts supplementary knowledge of regulatory issues in the consumer products industry." He was also commended by clients for being "very responsive to enquiries and with a keen eye for detail, he is extremely hands-on. His meticulous and in-depth approach to strategising is key to the excellent outcomes we enjoy."

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