Around 1.4 tonnes of illegally imported fruits and vegetables seized at Tuas Checkpoint
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
All illegal imports from Malaysia were seized by the Singapore Food Agency.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE FOOD AGENCY
SINGAPORE – About 1.4 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables that were illegally imported from Malaysia were seized at Tuas Checkpoint during a recent two-day joint operation.
The operation was conducted by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on April 2 and 3, they said in a joint statement on April 8.
Delivery trucks that transport produce for direct distribution to retailers and customers were targeted then.
During the operation, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint noticed discrepancies in the consignment in two trucks and referred them to SFA for further checks.
The agency then found undeclared and under-declared fruits and vegetables, such as capsicum, Japanese cucumber, lime and caixin, in the trucks.
All illegally imported produce were seized.
Food can be imported into Singapore only by licensed importers, and each consignment must be declared and accompanied by a valid import permit, the joint statement said, adding that illegally imported produce and food products of unknown sources can pose a food safety risk.
Those who illegally import fresh produce into Singapore may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three years, or both upon conviction.
SFA is following up with further investigations.
