Singapore Food Safety Law: Three-Year Ban for Violations

On Wednesday, January 8, the Singapore Parliament officially passed a bill aimed at updating the food safety system. This bill stipulates that operators whose licenses are revoked due to food safety violations will face a ban on license eligibility for up to three years. For serious risks to food safety or fraudulent activities affecting public interest, licenses for food trade, food operations, or animal feed production may be revoked.

Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, pointed out during the second reading of the food safety bill that currently, individuals whose licenses are revoked can immediately reapply for the same license after conviction, even if they may still be unfit to operate food businesses. She added that under the bill submitted by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the actual cancellation eligibility period will be determined by the Singapore Food Agency based on the compliance history and severity of violations of the previous license holder. She emphasized that the maximum disqualification period is three years, aimed at providing sufficient deterrence while avoiding excessive punishment.

Additionally, the bill provides that the maximum fine for the most serious food-related offenses will increase to 50,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 36,500 USD) for first-time offenders. Various food-related laws enacted at different times in Singapore will be consolidated into a new single food law, which is crucial for Singapore's ongoing development and modernization. First-time offenders will face fines of up to 25,000 Singapore dollars, up to 24 months of imprisonment, or both. The bill will also categorize offenses and their corresponding maximum penalties based on the severity of the crime and threat to public health, as well as the culpability and circumstances of the wrongdoing.

The bill aims to consolidate and streamline food-related legislation and enhance Singapore's food supply resilience. According to the bill, the laws governing the importation of food for private consumption will also change. Everyone will be allowed to bring in a total of no more than 15 kilograms of various food items from overseas, including up to 30 eggs. The National Parks Board previously stated that the current limits for meat and seafood are 5 kilograms per person, and fruit and vegetable limits are set to "reasonable amounts."

Ms. Fu noted that since these foods are for personal and family consumption rather than for widespread distribution, the risk to public food safety is greatly reduced. However, this exception does not include highly regulated foods such as wildlife or animal blood products.

The bill was introduced after several high-profile food poisoning incidents affecting kindergartens and companies in 2024. In December, 24 children at the Gethsemane Baptist Church Little Seeds Preschool showed gastrointestinal symptoms, with 7 hospitalized. In July of the same year, a large-scale food poisoning incident occurred at ByteDance's Singapore office, with over 160 people reporting gastrointestinal symptoms. Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon pointed out in Parliament that between 2022 and 2024, an average of 43% of foodborne gastrointestinal outbreaks were caused by poor food safety practices by food workers.

"The food industry has a responsibility to ensure their food safety. It is neither practical nor possible for the National Food Agency to verify and test all food before consumption." While Members of Parliament support the bill, some raised concerns about the business costs and measures to mitigate food safety loopholes beyond enforcement. Ensuring food safety from farm to table requires every participant in the food value chain to play their part, necessitating a joint commitment from the government, industry, and consumers.

Opposition MP Dennis Tan inquired about other efforts to promote best practices in the industry and reduce food poisoning incidents. Mr. Don Wee expressed concern over how authorities can balance overly harsh penalties for small businesses with lenient penalties for large offenders, and he raised worries about the additional compliance costs for small food enterprises transitioning to the new safety regime. Nominated MP Jean See emphasized the challenges food businesses might face in implementing preventive food control plans to ensure safety and hygiene.

Dr. Koh, in his closing remarks responding to questions from the new Parliament, stated that food businesses must comply with regulations ensuring food safety. As for implementing food control plans, businesses required to do so can flexibly decide on preventive measures suitable for their operational needs. He noted that this should not impose a significant compliance burden on them. In response to Mr. Wee, Dr. Koh stated that various measures in the bill will be implemented in phases. He continued, "The bill provides flexibility for the food industry and the Food Agency to impose regulations in a calibrated manner based on the operational circumstances of different food businesses."

MP Don Wee expressed support for the "Food Safety and Security Bill" and its comprehensive update of food safety legislation but urged the Ministry of Sustainability and Minister Fu to address concerns about the penalties for small and large businesses being too harsh and too lenient, respectively. She stated that these penalties aim to curb serious misconduct and protect public health. She emphasized that the factors guiding penalties are the severity of the violations and their threat to public health, not the size of the enterprise.

According to the bill, the government will also implement food safety measures, including minimum storage requirements and farm management plans for local farms. The former allows entities in the food supply chain to hold basic food or agricultural production inputs as stock, while the latter ensures the sustainable expansion of local production. In her closing remarks, Ms. Fu described safe and reliable food as the ultimate "existence." She said, "This is crucial for our daily lives, our economy, our safety, and the normal functioning of our entire society. This is the significance of this bill."