Importer fined $5,600 for illegally importing food products, unauthorised disposal of detained vegetables
Sunrise Vegetable Pte Ltd was fined on Wednesday (July 29) for illegally importing fresh fruits and vegetables and processed food, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in a statement.
"The importer was also fined an additional $2,000 for unauthorised disposal of the detained vegetable consignment while laboratory results were pending," SFA added.
In November 2019, officers from SFA detected 299kg of undeclared and under-declared fresh fruits and vegetables and 96.2kg of undeclared processed food in the consignments imported from Malaysia by the importer.
All the illegal consignments were seized.
SFA also conducted routine samplings in which the consignments were subjected to the hold-and-test regime.
They subsequently found that the importer had carried out unauthorised disposal of the detained vegetable consignment while laboratory results were pending.
In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements and food safety standards. Illegally imported vegetables are of unknown sources and can pose a food safety risk.
"Food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit," said SFA.
The long-term ingestion of excessive pesticide residues through the consumption of vegetables that have been subjected to pesticide abuse could lead to adverse health effects.
Offenders who illegally import fresh fruits and vegetables shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.
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