390kg of abalone and other seafood in unlicensed cold store seized, company fined $3,000

A company was fined $3,000 on May 8 for operating an unlicensed cold store in Henderson Industrial Park.

Officers from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) inspected the premises of Deep Sea Gourmet on Jan 17 and found assorted frozen seafood products, such as shrimp, crabmeat and abalone, stored in three freezers.

The premises are not licensed as a cold store. Approximately 390kg of the frozen seafood products were seized.

Under the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act, cold stores for meat and seafood products can only be operated with a valid licence. Illegal storage of meat and seafood at unlicensed facilities poses food safety risks.

Offenders shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.

Another company was also fined on the same day as Deep Sea Gourmet.

Sino You International was fined $6,500 for illegally importing fresh and processed produce for sale. Its director, Zhang Bao Yin, was also fined $6,500 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed.

In February 2023, officers from SFA found more than 2.6 tonnes of undeclared and under-declared fresh and processed produce in the consignments imported from China.

The produce include oranges, red and green chillies, chives and peeled garlic. All illegal consignments were seized.

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

Offenders shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.

Those who illegally import processed fruits and vegetables shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and in the case of a subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.