Truck at Woodlands Checkpoint found carrying 176kg of illegally imported fruits and vegetables

A truck carrying food produce was stopped during a joint operation conducted by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 15 last year.

The truck was then referred to SFA for a follow-up inspection.

SFA’s investigation found that the company Chin Sam Chiap, an importer of food products, had illegally imported approximately 176kg fresh fruits and vegetables which were in excess quantities and undeclared. The illegal consignments from Malaysia were seized.

The company was fined $7,000 by the court on Wednesday (May 17) while its director, Chin Kang Chwee, was fined $5,000 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed.

Three other food companies were also fined for various offences on the same day.

Chee Song Foods, a licensed meat importer, was fined $35,000 for failure to arrange for inspection, examination, and certification by SFA, as well as for selling a consignment of frozen chicken products prior to inspection.

The company had imported 27,000kg of frozen chicken products on July 29 last year. The company failed to arrange for SFA to inspect, examine and certify consignments and had proceeded to sell the products.

Sim Ee Jiun, the licensee of Chop Weng Hoi, was fined $5,800 for illegally importing fresh and processed produce.

SFA officers had found on March 30 last year that Sim had illegally imported approximately 110kg of undeclared and under-declared fresh fruits and vegetables, and approximately 496kg of undeclared minimally processed vegetables from Malaysia. All the illegal consignments were seized.

Atlantic Supplies and Trading was fined $3,500 for operating an unlicensed cold store. Its director, Ang Yi Cheng, was also fined the same amount for failing to prevent the offence from being committed.

SFA officers had found during an inspection of the company’s Buroh Crescent premises in September last year that approximately 1,585kg of meat and seafood products were stored in an unlicensed cold store. The products, which include chicken and fish, were seized by SFA.

In Singapore, all cold stores for meat and seafood products must be licensed and are required to meet SFA’s requirements and food safety standards. These licensed premises are also routinely inspected by SFA to ensure compliance.