A Singapore importer was fined $3,000 for bringing in fresh vegetables that did not conform to import permit requirements, the Singapore Food Agency said in a release on April 3. Tang Khoong Poh, the licensee of Heng Kee Trading and Food Supplier, was fined in court on Wednesday.
Officers from the then Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore, which has been replaced by SFA, detected 580kg of under-declared fresh spring onions and green capsicums imported last July. The two consignments of vegetables were imported from Malaysia by Heng Kee Trading and Food Supplier. The illegal consignments were seized and destroyed, SFA said.
The agency stated that illegally imported food products are from unknown sources and pose a food safety risk. Food imports in Singapore must meet SFA's requirements and food safety standards, and can only be brought in by licensed importers.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said that Seng Lee Impex, a company that imports fruits and vegetables, and Ng Soo Tiang, 59, the sole proprietor of Ever-Shine Fruits and Vegetables Supplier, were fined $6,000 and $3,000 respectively.
According to straitstimes.com those found guilty of illegally importing food can be fined up to $10,000, jailed up to three years, or both.
