Man fined $17,500 for illegally importing 1,200kg of canned meat from Malaysia

A man was fined $17,500 for illegally importing meat products from Malaysia, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement.

Zheng Jingpin, 28, a partner in processed fish importer Sengkang Trading Enterprise, had pleaded to one count of illegally importing the meat products.

On June 2, 2022, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint detected a lorry with 145 cartons of canned meat that had been declared as processed food.

The case was referred to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for investigation.

SFA found about 1,200kg of illegally imported canned meat in their investigation.

Sengkang Trading Enterprise is licensed to import processed food but not meat.

The illegal meat products were seized.

In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements," SFA said.

"Illegally imported food products of unknown sources can pose a food safety risk. 

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

In addition, meat and its products can only be imported from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with our food safety standards and requirements."

Offenders can be jailed up to two years, or fined up to $50,000, or both.

For subsequent convictions, they can be jailed up to three years, or fined up to $100,000 or both.