Man fined $6,800 for illegal import of fresh duck eggs, meat products and coriander

Pahoon Thanat, 24, was fined $6,800 in court yesterday (Aug 2) for the illegal import of fresh duck eggs, meat products and coriander.

In a media release, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it had acted on a tip-off and intercepted a vehicle driven by Thanat at Peninsular Plaza.

He was found to have illegally imported 300 fresh duck eggs, 24kg of coriander and 5.5kg of meat products from Thailand.

The products were seized and disposed of, said the AVA.

In Singapore, the import of food is regulated for food safety and animal health reasons.

Meat, eggs and their products, can only be imported from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with AVA's food safety standards and requirements.

Illegally imported food products are from unknown sources. Apart from being a food safety risk, they also may pose a risk to public and animal health in Singapore.

Any person who illegally imports food from unapproved sources is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or a jail term of two years for the first conviction.

In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the penalty is a fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or a jail term not exceeding three years.