This included oranges, red and green chillies, chives, and peeled garlic
Two companies were fined in a Singapore court for breaking food importation regulations. Sino You International Pte Ltd was found guilty of illegally importing fresh and processed produce for sale and was fined $6,500. The company’s Director, Zhang Bao Yin, was also fined $6,500 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed. Deep Sea Gourmet Pte Ltd was fined $3,000 for operating an unlicensed cold store.
In February 2023, officers from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) discovered that Sino You International Pte Ltd had imported over 2.6 tonnes of undeclared and under-declared fresh and processed produce from China. This included oranges, red and green chillies, chives, and peeled garlic. All illegal consignments were seized by the authorities.
On January 17, 2024, officials from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) inspected Deep Sea Gourmet Pte Ltd’s premises. During the inspection, they discovered that the company was storing various frozen seafood products, including shrimp, crabmeat, and abalone, in three freezers. However, the premises did not have a license to operate as a cold store. As a result, approximately 390 kg of frozen seafood products were confiscated by the SFA.
It is important to note that all food imports in Singapore must meet the SFA’s requirements. Fruits and vegetables can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied by a valid import permit. Illegally imported produce poses a food safety risk, as it comes from unknown sources and may contain high levels of pesticides. 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.
