| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE : Buyers from the food and hospitality industry could spend up to US$6 billion when they go shopping at next month's Food&HotelAsia2008 (FHA2008).
Touted to be the largest international food and hospitality trade show in Asia, the biennial event will be focusing on the importance of food safety this year. It will cover seven exhibition halls at the Singapore Expo.
With the recent spate of food poisoning and food recalls, this year's exhibition will feature a Food Safety Forum.
"It should not be something that you have to think twice about. It should be ingrained into your businesses that food safety is primary, other than the quality of the food," said Linda Leong-Quek, Singapore Food Standards Committee, SPRING Singapore.
There will also be a one-day Food Safety Management course on ISO 22000, an international food safety standard.
The certification specifies requirements for a food safety management system and covers all processes along the food chain, from production to consumption. Launched two years ago, the standard aims at harmonising different food safety programmes.
"Across the world, this awareness of (ISO) 22000 is being pushed all the time. And I think at the last FHA, we did have a discussion as well. Each year, you want to keep on reminding people and this awareness will grow. Like all the other ISO programmes, it takes time," said Leong-Quek.
If more countries adopt this certification, exporters can enjoy savings as only one food certification will then be needed for multiple export destinations.
The event will feature over 3,300 exhibiting companies from over 60 countries.
"They can now find new sources to supply, be it their foods and greens or meat products, or even beverage and drinks. So it's effectively us creating a one-stop shopping area for importers of food all over Asia," said Stephen Tan, Chief Executive of Singapore Exhibition Services.
Tan added that alternative sources can have many benefits. He said new sources might mean cheaper food and more efficient delivery methods, which in turn lead to shorter delivery times.
More than 37,000 trade buyers are expected at the four-day event starting April 22.
Sourcing budget is estimated at US$6.1 billion, based on a survey of visitor's intention to spend at the exhibition. The previous show in 2006 saw a sourcing budget of US$5.9 billion. In terms of tourism receipts, the previous show earned Singapore S$37 million. - CNA /ls
|
