Singapore – Held in Singapore from August 17 to 21, 2026, a five-day technical workshop was led by SEAFDEC’s Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD), in collaboration with Singapore Food Agency’s National Centre for Food Science (NCFS). Organized under the ASEAN-JICA Food Value Chain Development Project (AJFVC), the workshop brought together fisheries officers, laboratory specialists and extension officers from ASEAN Member States (AMS) to strengthen technical understanding and laboratory capacity in food safety testing for fish and fishery products, based on the technical inputs on laboratory testing methods.
The workshop combined lectures, technical discussions, hands-on laboratory training, covering marine biotoxins, histamine, and organic contaminants as the key food safety hazards. The practical training focused particularly on histamine testing and organic contaminates, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
A key outcome of the workshop was the development of technical inputs for the laboratory testing methods, supplementing Inspection Guidelines for Imported Fish and Fishery Products, incorporating the expertise and experience shared by AMS representatives. The workshop also enhanced the technical capacity of participants and fostered stronger regional networks, contributing to ASEAN’s efforts to harmonize food safety practices and support a more resilient and trusted seafood value chain.
