Operations at pig abattoir halted due to ammonia gas leak
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 November 2009 2316 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Operations were halted at Singapore's only pig abattoir on Monday due to an accidental ammonia gas leak.

It happened in one of the pork chiller rooms and the abattoir in Buroh Lane was cordoned off as a safety precaution and to rectify the leak.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said operations are expected to resume on Tuesday, once the plant gets the all clear.

It added that chilled pork from pigs imported from Indonesia will be back on sale on Thursday.

Some 900 pigs arrive in Singapore every day from the Indonesian island of Pulau Bulan. This accounts for about 20 per cent of all pork consumed in Singapore.

However, AVA said the incident will have minimal impact on the supply of pork in Singapore because there is sufficient supply of chilled pork from Australia and frozen pork from other approved sources.

AVA will ensure that it will be safe for the abattoir personnel to resume operations and that the pork produced is safe and free from ammonia contamination.

- CNA/yb