Anamalai s/o Anadam, the partner of Suri Rao Coconut Trading, was fined $8,000 by the Court on 8 May 2024 for illegally importing meat products from Malaysia.

2.          On 1 October 2022, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Tuas Checkpoint detected a truck with a consignment of frozen poultry, which were falsely declared as processed food. The case was referred to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for investigation.

3.          SFA’s investigation found more than 1,200kg of frozen poultry that was illegally imported. The illegal consignment was seized.

More than 1,200kg of illegally imported frozen poultry was seized (Photo by ICA). 

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 meat 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 without a valid permit shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months. In the case of a subsequent conviction, offenders shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

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 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.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE FOOD AGENCY
09 MAY 2024