Wholesaler and its director fined $13,000 for illegal import of Malaysian produce
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Some of the illegally imported produce include kale, curry leaf, leaf mustard and caixin.
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SINGAPORE - A wholesaler and its director were fined a total of $13,000 by the court on Wednesday for illegally importing food from Malaysia.
On Jan 19, a truck with produce consigned to Greenyard Food Industries was found to contain 324kg of undeclared and under-declared fresh fruits and vegetables at Woodlands Checkpoint during a check jointly operated by Singapore Food Agency and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. About 11kg of undeclared processed food was also found.
Greenyard Food Industries, a retailer and wholesale trader of fruit and vegetables according to companies.sg, was fined $7,500. Its director Fang Kai Bung was fined $5,500 for failing to prevent the offence.
Locally, fruits and vegetables must be imported by only licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and have a valid import permit. Illegally imported vegetables have unknown sources, and may pose a risk to food safety, including having unregulated or high level of pesticides.
Offenders who illegally import fresh fruits and vegetables are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years. Offenders who illegally import processed fruits and vegetables shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and in the case of a subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.
