2 food importers and their directors fined $22,000 in total for illegally importing food from Malaysia

Two food importers and their directors were fined a total of $22,000 on Wednesday (May 10) for illegally importing fresh and processed produce for sale.

Honesty Fruit and Vegetables Wholesaler was fined $5,000 after a truck carrying food produce consigned to the company was stopped and referred for checks during a joint operation conducted by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Woodlands Checkpoint on June 8, 2022.

The truck was then referred to SFA for follow-up inspection.


Some of the illegally imported produce included round cabbage, xiao baicai, and cut garlic. (Photo: SFA)

The investigation found the company illegally imported about 267kg of undeclared and under-declared fresh fruits and vegetables and about 319kg of undeclared and under-declared processed food in the consignments from Malaysia.

All illegal consignments were seized.

The company's director Wong Chiew Fong was fined $5,000 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed.

Fresh Choice Avenue was fined $7,000 after SFA found the company had illegally imported approximately 337kg of undeclared and undeclared fresh fruits and vegetables and 273kg of undeclared processed food in consignments from Malaysia.

The offence came to light on Oct 13, 2022 when a truck carrying the food produce was stopped and referred for checks at Woodlands Checkpoint.


Some of the illegally imported produce include cut cabbage, cut brinjal, and long cabbage (Photo: SFA)

All illegal consignments were seized.

Its director Chew Chai Sin was fined $5,000 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed.

SFA added that the company had previously been prosecuted for the illegal import of processed produce.

In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements.

SFA and ICA said: "Fruits and vegetables can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit.

"Illegally imported vegetables are of unknown sources and can pose a food safety risk (e.g. if unregulated or high level of pesticides are used).

"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."

Those who illegally import fresh fruits and vegetables can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed up to three years or both.

Offenders who illegally import processed fruits and vegetables can be fined not exceeding $1,000 and in the case of a subsequent conviction, fined up to $2,000.