Food businesses cautious when exporting to Singapore

After a company registered in Singapore was fined for illegally importing seafood from Vietnam, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore noted that businesses need to carefully study the regulations to ensure the reputation and image of Vietnamese businesses are built.

Packaging bird's nests of Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company for export to markets, including Singapore. Photo: Vu Sinh/VNA

A press release from the Singapore Food Authority (SFA) said that Viet-Sin Grocery Private Company, registered in Singapore since 2020, was fined SGD 36,000 for illegally operating two cold storage warehouses, illegally importing some meat and seafood products from Vietnam and some recommendations for Vietnamese businesses, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.

Specifically, according to the SFA report, Viet-Sin Grocery Company has violated the operation of cold storage three times and illegally imported some meat and seafood products from Vietnam.

On 26 April 2022, SFA found approximately 1,800 kg of meat, meat products and seafood stored in an unlicensed cold storage facility at Gambas Crescent.

Then, on 15 March 2023, SFA discovered another cold storage facility operating without a licence at Woodlands Close, storing approximately 1.24 tonnes of meat, meat products and seafood.

Most recently, approximately 37 kg of various meat products were discovered being distributed at a grocery store in Woodlands. The two cold storages and grocery store were both operated by Viet-Sin Company. The products were confirmed to be imported from Vietnam, without a valid import license and of unrecognized origin. The SFA has now seized all the exhibits.

This incident was announced on the official website of SFA with pictures of some illegally imported goods from Vietnam.

To ensure the reputation and image of Vietnamese enterprises, the Vietnam Trade Office notes: Singapore has very strict regulations on the production and consumption of food, regulations on food labeling, permitted food additives, random ingredients appearing in food, the use of minerals, partially hydrogenated oils, regulations on food containers, irradiated food... The Singaporean government has regulations for each type of imported goods.

Imports of dairy and dairy products, live animals, meat and fish are considered “high risk” and are strictly controlled through SFA’s inspection, testing and licensing procedures.

Currently, Singapore does not allow the import of fresh eggs, live meat and animals, live oysters and imposes high technical requirements for Vietnamese dairy products. There is an updated list of countries/territories licensed to export certain products to Singapore attached.

Fresh fruits and vegetables imported into Singapore must not contain any prohibited pesticides, and the level of pesticide residue or toxic chemical residue must not exceed the level prescribed in the Food Business Act or FAO/WHO recommendations.

Under Singapore regulations, businesses in Singapore importing food must comply with the requirements of the SFA and must be licensed by the competent authority. Each consignment must be declared and accompanied by a valid import permit.

If a business illegally imports or processes meat products from unlicensed sources or stores meat products for sale without a valid license, it will be subject to fines and imprisonment (up to 3 years), depending on the severity of the violation.

Furthermore, Singapore is a market with high and strict requirements on food hygiene and safety. The production, import and trading of food is strictly managed by the Singapore government and must comply with the Food Business Act 2002, which was amended and replaced by a number of articles on December 7, 2017, Food Regulations, Environmental Regulations, Public Health

In addition to demands on product quality, especially food products, Singaporean consumers are also very sensitive to information related to food hygiene, clear and transparent origin and legal compliance of businesses.

Cases like the one of Viet-Sin Grocery mentioned above can negatively affect Singaporean consumers’ purchasing choices for Vietnamese food products in general and create a bad reputation for Vietnamese export businesses in particular. Vietnamese businesses should regularly update local regulations and choose suitable partners.

From the supplier's perspective, in the current context and some recent events, Singapore is in dire need of diversifying its supply of food products, especially meat products of all kinds.

The Trade Office recommends that the Government consider negotiating with Singapore on the supply of meat and eggs to facilitate trade for official import and export of these products from Vietnam./.

Linh Anh