Zheng Jingpin, partner of Sengkang Trading Enterprise, was fined $17,500 by the Court today for illegally importing meat products from Malaysia. 

2.        On 2 June 2022, Immigration & 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. 

3.        SFA’s investigation found about 1200kg of illegally imported canned meat. Sengkang Trading Enterprise is licensed to import processed fish, but not for the import of meat. The illegal meat products were seized. 

About 1200kg of illegally imported canned meat were seized (Photo: SFA) 

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

5.        Offenders who import meat products illegally from unapproved sources or found in possession of meat products for the purpose of selling, which were imported without a valid licence shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to two years. In the case of a subsequent conviction, offenders shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three years. 

6.        Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains a top priority for ICA. ICA will continue to conduct security checks to detect and deter illegal importation attempts so as to keep Singapore safe. SFA will continue to safeguard food safety through our integrated food safety system, which includes strict import regulations and enforcement, and work closely with border control agencies to deter illegal import across our borders.