STREET hawkers have to pay $120 for a licence to sell ice cream and non-easily-perishable food items like pre-packed biscuits, sweets and peanuts.

But the National Environment Agency does not allow street hawkers to sell cooked food as it does not conduct hygiene checks on the food sold.

Hawkers with licences, issued only to Singaporeans or permanent residents who cannot land jobs, can conduct sales at housing estates, or at parks designated by the National Parks Board for street hawking.

Those who hawk without a licence face a maximum fine of $1,000 for the first offence, and for subsequent offences, a fine of up to $4,000 and/or up to three months' jail.