SINGAPORE - Travellers returning to Singapore from Japan can now bring home beef and pork products from the country with less hassle, as long as the products carry Japanese food safety accreditation labels.

In the past, the products had to be screened by the animal quarantine services at Japan's airports.

But travellers bound for Singapore can now bypass the checks for these products if they have the labels, a spokesman from the Embassy of Japan here told Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao.

The change took effect from Jan 15 after the Japanese authorities observed higher demand for meat products from Singapore travellers.

Meat products purchased at Japan's international airports come with the labels. Selected stores in Tokyo also sell meat products that are certified with the labels.

The animal quarantine services at the airport can also issue labels on the spot for meat products produced in Japan.

The change in rules took effect from Jan 15 after the Japanese authorities observed higher demand for meat products from travellers from Singapore.

Japan is also planning to extend similar rules for other countries in future, the embassy spokesman said.

Travellers are allowed to bring in up to 5kg of meat products from Japan for personal consumption, said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.