Greater flexibility for consumers to import food items under proposed law

Consumers will have greater flexibility to import food – whether meat or processed goods – for personal consumption, under a new law proposed in Parliament on Nov 12.

- Shabana Begum

Under the Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB), each person will be allowed to bring in a total of 15kg of food across all categories for private consumption. This also applies to food bought online.

Currently, import limits are determined by food type. For example, a person can import only 5kg of meat, or 5kg of fish – of which only 2kg can be frozen. But the proposed law will consolidate all food types, including meat, fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables, and processed foods, under one import limit of 15kg.

Also, under current rules, meat products can be imported only from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with Singapore's food safety standards and requirements. Beef, for example, can be brought in from only 13 countries including Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, but not from Malaysia or Indonesia.

But under the proposed Bill, residents and visitors can bring in commonly consumed meat items from more countries.

Such meat includes beef, pork, mutton, venison, chicken, duck, turkey and goose. However, items of higher regulatory concern, such as animal blood and game meat, will continue to be prohibited, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

The agency said more details will be shared when ready.

It added: "The limits (of meat) imports for private consumption are currently stipulated in different Acts and differ based on food types. The limits were also set many years ago."

It stressed that while the proposed law will provide more flexibility on the quantity of food types, it will be an offence to sell the food brought in for personal consumption.