Singapore company fined $6,000 for illegal import of fruits and vegetables

TCM Fruits and Vegetables Pte Ltd has been fined $6,000 in court today for importing fresh fruits and vegetables without declaring in the import permit. TCM Fruits and Vegetables Pte Ltd was also charged for illegal import of processed vegetables. This was taken into consideration in the sentencing.

In November 2017, officers from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) detected about 1.17 tonnes of undeclared fruits and vegetables from two separate lorries at Woodlands Checkpoint. The importer, TCM Fruits and Vegetables Pte Ltd, did not declare the assorted fruits and vegetables in the import permit. The illegal consignments from Malaysia were seized and destroyed.

Illegally imported food products are of unknown sources and pose a food safety risk. In Singapore, the food imports must meet AVA’s requirements and food safety standards. Food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit.
Offenders who illegally imports food shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.