Fined S$36,000 for selling illegal food from Vietnam

Viet-Sin Grocery was fined S$36,000 for illegally operating two cold storage facilities and illegally importing several meat and seafood products from Vietnam.

The information was announced by the Singapore Food Authority (SFA). Viet-Sin Grocery has been registered in Singapore since 2020. According to SFA, the 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 1,784 kg of meat, meat products and seafood in an unlicensed cold storage facility at Gambas Crescent. Then, on 15 March 2023, SFA discovered another unlicensed cold storage facility at Woodlands Close, storing approximately 1,240 kg of meat, meat products and seafood.

Most recently, approximately 37 kg of various meat products were found 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 seized all the exhibits.

Images of some of the discovered evidence. Screenshot of SFA's announcement

Under Singapore regulations, food importers must comply with the requirements of the SFA and be licensed by the relevant 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 permit, it will be liable to a fine of up to S$100,000, and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years, depending on the severity of the offence.

To ensure the reputation and image of Vietnamese enterprises, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore recommends that food exporting enterprises regularly update regulatory information and choose suitable partners.

The agency noted that Singapore has very strict regulations on food production and consumption, labeling, additives, and incidental ingredients. Imports of milk and dairy products, live animals, meat, and fish are considered "high risk" and are strictly controlled by the SFA.

Singapore has not yet allowed the import of fresh eggs, meat and live animals, live oysters; and has set high technical requirements for Vietnamese dairy products. The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore assessed that this country is in dire need of diversifying its supply of food products, especially meat products of all kinds. Therefore, negotiations are needed to facilitate trade for official import and export of these products from Vietnam.

Di Tung

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