Chew’s Agriculture was the worst hit, with a number of its chicken sheds completely or partially collapsed. Several government agencies including AVA, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), National Parks Board (NParks), National Environment Agency (NEA), PUB Singapore’s National Water Agency, and Singapore Land Authority (SLA), came together to facilitate the swift recovery of the worst-affected farms, and to prevent animal health, public health, or food safety issues.
Upon receiving news of the damage, AVA officers immediately visited the affected farms the same evening. The next morning, a recovery plan was set in motion. Then Senior Minister of State for National Development and other members of the AVA leadership team, also visited the farms to assess the situation. About 40 AVA officers worked tirelessly, even during weekends, to assist the farms in their recovery efforts, which included rounding-up chickens that escaped from Chew’s Agriculture’s collapsed sheds. AVA, BCA, and SLA also assisted Chew’s Agriculture to have the building closure order on its egg processing plant lifted quickly, so as to minimise any disruption to the farm’s egg production.
In recognition of our collective efforts, AVA and these agencies received the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) Minister’s Team Award 2018 on 8 August 2018. The award recognises the work of MND agencies whose joint projects showed exceptional effort in innovation,collaboration, and public service delivery.
“Everyone was in constant communication with each other and updated one another on new developments. It was great that all the agencies were able to pull together our various areas of expertise to assist the farms – AVA in terms of animal health and welfare, BCA in terms of safety of the farm structures, for example.”
Dr Han Zi Yang, Senior Veterinarian (Animal Section),
Agri Establishment Regulation Group, AVA