Company and director fined $3,000 each for importing fish and meat products without valid permit

A food importer was fined $3,000 for importing meat and fish products without a valid permit, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement on Thursday (Sep 1).

WDJM's director, Wang Meimei, was also fined $3,000 for failing to exercise due diligence to prevent the offence from being committed.

In October 2021, Singapore Customs alerted the SFA to the detection of about 200kg of assorted meat and fish products imported without a valid permit.

The consignment included chicken ham sausage, beef stomach, and duck drumstick.

Investigations found that WDJM imported the meat products from an unaccredited source in China.

The illegal consignment was seized.

SFA said: "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 of unknown source poses food safety risk.

"Meat and their products can only be imported from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with our food safety standards and requirements."

Offenders who import meat products illegally from unapproved sources are liable to a fine of $50,000 and/or up to two years' jail, and in the case of a subsequent conviction, to a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to three years' jail.