PRC WOMAN WHO ILLEGALLY IMPORTED MEAT & FOOD PRODUCTS INTO S’PORE, FINED $12K

Chinese National Fined $12,000 For Illegally Importing Assorted Meat Products And Processed Food Products

Mei Hua, a Chinese national, was fined $12,000 by the court today for illegally importing assorted meat products and processed food products into Singapore.

2. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station detected anomalies in the scanned images of an import container and proceeded to unstuff the container on 27 January 2022. They uncovered a consignment of assorted meat imported without a valid permit and undeclared processed food products. The case was referred to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for investigation.
3. SFA’s investigation found that there were 101.45kg of assorted meat products and 73.65kg of processed food products illegally imported by Mei Hua, such as duck blood, pig blood, pancake and sunflower seeds. The illegal consignments were seized and destroyed.

4. In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements. Illegally imported food products of unknown sources 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. Illegally imported food products are of unknown sources and poses food safety risk.
5. Meat and their products can only be imported from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with our food safety standards and requirements. Offenders who import meat products illegally from unapproved sources are liable to a fine of $50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to two years and, in the case of a subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or to imprisonment of up to three years. Offenders who illegally import processed food shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and in the case of subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.
6. Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains ICA’s top priority. ICA will continue to conduct security checks to detect and deter illegal importation attempts to keep Singapore safe. SFA will continue to safeguard food safety through our integrated food safety system, which includes strict import regulations and enforcement, and work closely with border control agencies to deter illegal import across our borders.

SINGAPORE FOOD AGENCY
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
8 MAY 2023