The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore said that the Singapore Food Authority (SFA) announced that Viet-Sin Grocery Private Company, a Vietnamese enterprise registered in Singapore since 2020, had to pay a fine of SGD 36,000 (over VND 660 million) for illegally operating two cold storage warehouses and illegally importing a number of meat and seafood products from Vietnam.

SFA also has some recommendations for Vietnamese businesses.

According to the SFA report, Viet-Sin Grocery Company has violated the operation of cold storage three times and illegally imported some meat and seafood products from Vietnam.

Specifically, on April 26, 2022, SFA found about 1,800 kg of meat, processed meat products and seafood stored in an unlicensed cold storage at Gambas Crescent.

Then, on 15 March 2023, SFA discovered another cold storage facility operating without a licence at Woodlands Close, storing approximately 1,240kg of meat, meat products and seafood.

Most recently, about 37kg of various meat products were discovered being distributed at a grocery store in Woodlands.

The two cold storages and grocery stores mentioned above are both operated by Viet-Sin company.

The above products were confirmed to be imported from Vietnam, without a valid import license and of unrecognized origin. Currently, the SFA has seized all the exhibits.

This incident was announced on the official website of SFA with pictures of some illegally imported goods from Vietnam.

Also according to the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, to ensure the building of prestige and image of Vietnamese enterprises in the Singapore market, Vietnamese food exporting enterprises need to note that Singapore has very strict regulations on the production and consumption of food, regulations on food labeling, permitted food additives, random ingredients appearing in food, the use of minerals, partially hydrogenated oils, regulations on food containers, irradiated food, etc.

The Singapore government has regulations for each type of imported goods.

Imports of dairy products, fresh animals, meat and fish are considered “high risk” and are strictly controlled through SFA’s inspection, testing and licensing processes.

Currently, Singapore does not allow the import of fresh eggs, meat and live animals, live oysters; and imposes high technical requirements for Vietnamese dairy products; There is an updated list of countries/territories licensed to export certain products to Singapore attached.

Fresh fruits and vegetables imported into Singapore must not contain any prohibited pesticides, and the level of pesticide residue or toxic chemical residue must not exceed the level prescribed in the Food Business Act or FAO/WHO recommendations.

Under Singapore regulations, businesses in Singapore importing food must comply with the requirements of the SFA and must be licensed by the competent authority. Each consignment must be declared and accompanied by a valid import permit.

If a business illegally imports or processes meat products from unlicensed sources or stores meat products for sale without a valid license, it will be subject to a fine (up to S$100,000) and/or imprisonment (up to 3 years), depending on the severity of the offence.

Singapore is a market with high and strict requirements on food hygiene and safety. The production, import, and trading of food, etc. are strictly managed by the Singapore government and must comply with the Sales of Food Act 2002, which was amended and replaced by a number of articles on December 7, 2017, Food Regulations, Environmental Regulations, and Public Health (Food Safety).

In addition to demands on product quality, especially food products, Singaporean consumers are also very sensitive to information related to food hygiene, clear and transparent origin and legal compliance of businesses.

Vietnamese businesses should regularly update local regulations and choose appropriate partners.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore also said that in the current context and some recent events, Singapore is in dire need of diversifying its supply of food products, especially meat products of all kinds.

PHAM DUY