Han Bo Mao Yi Pte Ltd, an importer of meat, fish products, processed food products and food appliances, was fined $8,000 by the Court today for the illegal import of waxed pork products.

2          On 21 September 2019, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Changi Airfreight Centre, Air Cargo Command, had noticed anomalies in the scanned images of a consignment declared to contain clothes. Further checks revealed undeclared meat products that were suspected to be pork, without a valid import permit. The case was referred to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for subsequent investigation.

3          SFA’s investigation found 248.5 kilograms of illegally imported waxed pork products from China intended for sale in Singapore during the Chinese New Year period in 2020. The illegal consignment was seized.

248.5 kilograms of illegal waxed pork products detected. (Photo: SFA)

4          In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements. 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 can pose a food safety risk. In addition, meat and meat products can only be imported from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with Singapore’s food safety standards and requirements.

5          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.

6          Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains ICA’s top priority. The same method of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore. ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers, cargoes and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands across our borders. SFA will also 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.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE FOOD AGENCY
3 FEBRUARY 2021