Food and wine wholesaler fined $30,000 for multiple offences

Food and wine wholesaler Ferrari Food+Wine (FFW) was fined $30,000 on Wednesday (Apr 26) for multiple offences.

These violations include breaking the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act and Food Regulations on several occasions.

In April 2020, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) inspected FFW's premises and discovered around 175 kg of Italian meat products without a valid import permit.

Later in December 2020, during another inspection, SFA officers found that FFW had tampered with the date marks on 25 different pre-packed food products, such as olive oil, jam, and canned food.

They also found that FFW had processed about 212 kg of raw meat, seafood, and processed food products without the required processing establishment licence.

Approximately 1,157 kg of pet food was found in the cold store, which was a breach of licensing conditions since the cold store was only licensed to store food for human consumption.

FFW was ordered to stop processing meat and processed food products, and all illegal food products were seized by SFA.

In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA's requirements, and only licensed importers are allowed to import food.

Each shipment must be declared and accompanied by a valid import permit.

Illegally imported food products from unknown sources pose a food safety risk.

Offenders who illegally import meat or fish products can face a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to two years.

Those who illegally import processed food can be fined up to $1,000.

All food operators must obtain valid food business licences to supply food to other businesses.

Food processing at unlicensed premises also poses a food safety risk.

Under the Food Regulations, those who process food products in an unlicensed facility can be fined up to $5,000, and repeat offenders can face fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.

Tampering with the date marks on prepacked food or selling prepacked food without an expiry date mark is prohibited.

Offenders can face a fine of up to $1,000, and repeat offenders can face fines of up to $2,000.