Yong Yew Hin, sole-proprietor of Yong Thor Sat Trading Company, who does not hold a valid SFA license to import meat products, was fined $25,000 by the court today for the illegal import of meat products.

2.       On 30 October 2019, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station detected anomalies in the scanned images of a 40-footer container from China. ICA officers then conducted further checks on the consignment at a warehouse in Upper Aljunied Link and uncovered 101 cartons of illegally imported meat products. The case was referred to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for subsequent investigation.

3.       SFA’s investigation found more than 2 tonnes of meat consignments, including cured pork ham, duck gizzard, waxed chicken, waxed duck and various canned sausages, that were imported illegally and were seized.

More than 2 tonnes of illegally imported meat products were detected. (Photo: SFA)

4.       Illegally imported food products are of unknown sources and pose a food safety risk. In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements and food safety standards. Food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit. In addition, meat and its 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, cargos 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
21 October 2020