DATE-MARKING OF PRE-PACKED FOOD

Mr Chin Harn Tong asked the Minister for the Environment whether his Ministry strictly enforces the requirement that packaged perishable foodstuffs bear the expiry date of the contents; and whether he is satisfied with the present regulations.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: The Ministry first introduced date marking of pre-packed food in October 1979 to four items of perishable food, namely, cream, cultured milk drink, pasteurised milk, and yoghurt. In September 1986, another 12 food items were added to the list.

Items of pre-packed food selected for date-marking are those that have relatively short shelf-lives, ie readily perishable food and food products that are often found to be spoilt or infested with weevils due to prolonged storage.

Officers from my Ministry enforce the requirement for date- marking very strictly. Routine inspections are carried out daily in supermarkets, provision shops and other retail outlets. The health inspectors will check amongst other things, that food which require date-marking are properly date-marked and that they are not expired.

From last year until to date, a total of 272 offences involving date-marking were dealt with. There were 161 offences on the sale of food with expired date-mark, 100 offences on food without date-mark and 11 offences for tampering with date-marks.

My Ministry has organised a number of seminars to familiarise food traders, manufacturers, importers and retailers with the food laws. We are satisfied that those in the food business are familiar with and understand the requirements in our food laws.

My Ministry is also satisfied that the existing regulations on date-marking are adequate. However, such regulations are reviewed from time to time and if deemed necessary, more food items may be required to be date-marked in the future. rates - SINGAPORE OUTGOING TELEX RATES VS. CORRESPONDING INCOMING RATES, SINGAPORE IDD RATES VS. CORRESPONDING INCOMING RATES, COMPARISON OF POSTAGE RATE FOR A 20 GRAMME DOMESTIC LETTER (Cols. 397 - 402)