The Singapore Food and Drug Administration warns that some products contain Sibutramine.

According to information from the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, the Singapore Food Authority (SFA) has announced the discovery of the banned substance Sibutramine in the ingredients of three coffee products: KetoDiet Coffee from Malaysia, ChoCo Premix Coffee and V-SHOU Premium Coffee (unknown origin).

SFA recommends that consumers in this country should not buy or use the above products.

Sibutramine is an ingredient in weight loss pills and can only be used under a doctor's prescription. It has been banned in Singapore since 2010 due to the risk of heart attacks, strokes and some central nervous system disorders in users.

Under Section 15 of the Singapore Food Business Act, it is illegal to distribute unsafe food in Singapore. Any person or business that contravenes any provision of this Act is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding SGD 5,000.

In case of second or subsequent convictions, the fine shall not exceed SGD 10,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 3 months.

SFA will take strict action against any individual or business that sells or supplies unsafe food products mixed with prohibited substances.

Food additives permitted for use in food products imported or manufactured for sale in Singapore are specified in the Food Regulation.

Mr. Cao Xuan Thang, Trade Counselor, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, said that Singapore is a market with high and strict requirements on food safety. Updating, understanding and accurately following local food regulations is the first and most important requirement in producing and exporting food products to the Singapore market.

"Vietnamese food businesses should regularly check the ingredients in their products, ensuring that they only use permitted food additives and that the content used is within the maximum permitted level according to Singapore's regulations," the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore recommended.

In the first 7 months of 2024, Vietnam-Singapore trade reached 5.79 billion USD, of which Vietnam exported 2.92 billion USD of goods to this market, up 24% over the same period, and imported 2.87 billion USD from Singapore.