Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on shark’s fin declarations

Feb 13, 2019

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for National Development 

a) what percentage of shark’s fin shipments undergo sampling and DNA analysis to ensure that the species declarations are accurate;

b) for each year in the past five years, how many cases of false declarations were detected; and

c) whether there are plans to introduce a mandatory labelling scheme for all shark products specifying the species of shark.

Answer:

Singapore is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which is an international agreement to ensure that trade does not threaten wildlife species with extinction.  Trade in CITES-listed species, including some shark species, is regulated through a system of CITES permits, which are issued by both importing and exporting countries in accordance with CITES rules and regulations.

AVA acts based on credible information, tip-offs from other regulatory agencies, and market surveillance to identify shark’s fin consignments that may not have the necessary CITES permits or may be wrongly declared.  In the past five years, AVA has found one consignment of shark’s fin to be wrongly declared.

AVA will continue to review and update its enforcement and regulatory regime to ensure that it is effective.