Four Singapore companies have been fined in the past month, being accused of illegally importing food products. All of the firms had penalties set in court.
In October, CCL Impex Pte Ltd. was fined S$3,600 (US$2,700) for illegally importing fresh fruits, vegetables and processed food for sale.
In September 2019, officers from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) detected 387.5 kilograms of undeclared and under-declared fresh fruits and vegetables and about 506.7 kilograms of processed food in the consignments imported from Malaysia.
Between September 2019 and January this year, SFA staff detected 645 kilograms of undeclared processed food and 175 kilograms of under-declared and undeclared fresh fruits in consignments imported from Indonesia.
Earlier this month, GH Enterprise Pte Ltd. was fined S$6,000 (US$4,500) for illegally importing fresh vegetables for sale. In January SFA officials detected 150 kilograms of undeclared fresh vegetables in consignments imported from Malaysia.
Illegally imported vegetables can pose a food safety risk if unregulated or a high level of pesticides are used. In Singapore, food can only be imported by licensed firms, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit. Those who illegally import fresh fruits and vegetables are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of S$10,000 (US$7,400) and/or imprisonment for up to three years.
Source: foodsafetynews.com