Company fined $8,000 for illegal import of waxed pork products

Han Bo Mao Yi Pte Ltd, an importer of meat, fish products, processed food products and food appliances has been fined $8,000 for illegally importing waxed pork products.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Sep 21, 2019, Immigration and 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 they were undeclared meat products that were suspected to be pork. The products did not have a valid import permit.

The case was referred to the SFA for subsequent investigation.

SFA's investigation found 248.5kg 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.

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, said the SFA.

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.

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 subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or a jail term of up to three years.