Singapore develops coldchain standard

Singapore has launched TR 24: 2007 Technical Reference on Cold Chain Management for Vegetables—the fi rst such national standard for the ASEAN region.

The new standard sets guidelines for temperature and humidity, for the storage and handling of the vegetables throughout the entire cold chain—from the transportation and distribution routes, right up to the retail outlets and ultimately, the consumers.

Singaporeans are a healthconscious group, consuming about 370,000 tons or $307 million worth of vegetables a year. This works out to about 82 kilograms of greens per person annually. Of the 389,000 tons of vegetables imported and produced locally, 95 percent or $314 million worth of vegetables are imported, with the remaining fi ve percent or $46 million worth of vegetables being produced locally. Hence, proper management will not only keep the vegetables fresh and safe but also extend their shelf-life and reduce wastage.

Industry seems to be welcoming the directive. Tay Khiam Back, president of the Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters of Association says the integration of cold-chain management of vegetables will upgrade the industry. “Since it is important for everyone to understand the benefi ts of this standard, the Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association will encourage the industry to use and implement the standard.”

Supermarket NTUC Fairprice is among the fi rst to adopt cold-chain management in its operations. Mr Tan Kian Chew, Group CEO, NTUC Fairprice Co-operative comments, "At FairPrice, fresh food such as fruits and vegetables are handled through a stringent and well-executed cold chain management system. The strict guidelines that Fair Price observes on temperature control guarantees that we bring the freshest foods possible to our customers. This cold-chain management standard will further strengthen the safe supply of vegetables at our facilities."

This standard is also the third milestone in Singapore's efforts to develop cold chain standards for the fast-moving consumer goods industry. The fi rst cold-chain standard was for milk and dairy products, launched in 2002, and the second for chilled pork was launched in 2005.