The government is reviewing the sale and slaughter of live animals in wet markets in Singapore, says Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor.

Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Health, said this in Parliament on Tuesday (May 5) in response to a question from MP Louis Ng about whether the display, slaughter and sale of wild-caught live soft-shelled turtles at wet markets could be banned, because of zoonotic disease transmission risks.

This comes on the back of a joint appeal by two animal welfare groups, ACRES and SPCA, to the authorities to ask for a ban on the sale of live animals such as turtles and frogs in Singapore.

NEA stopped tendering wet market stalls for sale of live turtles since 2012

Khor noted that the National Environment Agency (NEA) stopped tendering wet market stalls for the sale of live turtles since 2012.

She added that existing wet market stalls that are allowed to slaughter and sell live turtles can carry on with business as usual, as long as they comply with food safety and hygiene requirements under the Environmental Public Health Act.

Vendors who breach food safety and hygiene requirements face enforcement action from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

According to Khor, the SFA has not detected any infringements during their regular inspections so far, and no cases of zoonotic disease transmission from these animals have been detected yet either, at the wet market stalls.

In addition, Khor noted that the SFA consulted the National Parks Board (NParks) and NEA, and evaluated the risk of zoonotic disease transmission by reptiles (associated with the sale and slaughter of live turtles) to be low.

"Nonetheless, agencies are reviewing the sale and slaughter of live animals in wet markets taking into consideration international benchmarking and scientific evidence, and will continue with efforts to improve public health and environmental hygiene standards in Singapore, including our wet markets."

Views of govt agencies not aligned with regard to live reptiles: Ng

Responding to Khor, Ng highlighted that the reason why wild-caught turtles cannot be kept as pets is the concern of disease transmission.

"Then all of a sudden that disease transmission concern disappears when it comes to the wet market."

He then asked if the views of different government agencies could be aligned on this front, in that case.

In response, Khor said both SFA and NParks are involved when regulating the sale and slaughter of wild-caught soft-shelled turtles, as NParks ensures there is no legal violation with regard to the import of the wild-caught turtles while SFA ensures compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.

Ng also argued that there is a risk to public health, similar to what led to the Covid-19 pandemic, as the live wild-caught turtles sold here come from another country and we are not aware of what diseases they might be carrying.

He then added that because the turtles are starved for their sale and slaughter in Singapore, they become "terribly stressed", which weakens their immunity and increases their chance of disease.

Ng then questioned the government's willingness to risk disease transmission even though turtle meat is not a staple food.

Low risk does not mean no risk: Khor

And in response, Khor said "just like in crime, low risk doesn't mean no risk".

She added that while harmful bacteria such as salmonella, is commonly found in live animals and raw meat, disease transmission can be curbed through good food safety and hygiene practices, such as cooking meat thoroughly and washing your hands with soap, before and after touching raw meat.

She then emphasised once again that the sale and slaughter of live turtles in wet markets is currently being reviewed.

Top photos via Parliament video and Louis Ng Kok Kwang/Facebook