Company fined for illegally importing 100kg of imitation black moss from China

Yuan Sang Pte. Ltd. was fined $3,800 by the court on Wednesday (Dec 9) for illegally importing processed food and sale of imitation food products.

Officers from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) detected a total of 100kg of undeclared black moss imported from China during an inspection in Nov 2019.

All the illegal consignments were seized.

SFA said in a statement that samples of the black moss were collected and sent to the laboratory for authentication testing. Test results revealed that the samples were imitation black moss.

"Illegally imported food products are of unknown sources and pose a food safety risk. In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s food safety requirements," said SFA.

"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 are of unknown sources and pose a food safety risk.

"Offenders who illegally import processed food 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."

SFA added that certain high risk categories of food products are subjected to laboratory testing by SFA and can only be sold or supplied to the public upon satisfactory testing results.

Offenders who sell food which is not of the quality, nature, or substance of the food demanded by the purchaser, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or jail term not exceeding three months or both.