ILLEGAL FOOD MANUFACTURERS (More severe action against)

Mr Chin Harn Tong asked the Minister for the Environment, (a) since the deterrence of adverse publicity and the quantum of fine do not, despite his Ministry's previous assurance to this House, seem to be effective against illegal food manufacturers who do not deal directly with consumers, whether he will consider other more stringent measures against such manufacturers; and (b) whether he will also consider taking more severe action against food vendors selling cooked food to consumers, if such vendors obtain their supplies of cooked food from illegal or unhygienic food manufacturers.

The Acting Minister for the Environment (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, widespread publicity and the prosecution of persons involved in illegal food manufacturing have been effective in our enforcement efforts against illegal food manufacturing activities. Since October last year, operations against illegal food manufacturing activities have resulted in the closing down of 49 illegal food factories. Another 34 such factories were found abandoned by illegal operators. My Ministry's operation against illegal food manufacturers will continue.

Illegal food manufacturers can be imprisoned up to three months and fined up to a total of $6,000, even for the first offence. So far, one offender was jailed for four weeks. My Ministry will press for more offenders to be jailed in order that we can put an end to such illegal activities. In the meantime, officers from the Food Control Department of my Ministry will continue to step up its enforcement actions to search and close down illegal food manufacturers and bring the offenders to Court. Property owners will also be prosecuted if they knowingly allow their premises to be used for food manufacturing without a licence.

As for food vendors selling food obtained from illegal food manufacturers, they may lose their licence if they are caught. All licensed food vendors have been adequately warned that they must obtain pre-prepared food or cooked food only from licensed food manufacturers. This is a condition of their licence. Officers from my Ministry conduct checks to ensure that this condition is strictly followed.

Mr Chin Harn Tong (Aljunied GRC): Two supplementary questions, Sir. What is the penalty for property owners who knowingly allow their premises to be used for food manufacturing without a licence? And second question, how many licensed food vendors who are found selling food obtained from illegal food manufacturers have their licence revoked?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, property owners who knowingly allow their premises to be used as illegal food manufacturing establishments will be prosecuted under the Environmental Public Health Act. The penalty on conviction for the first offence is a fine not exceeding $1,000; for the second and the subsequent offence, and if they are convicted, a fine of not exceeding $4,000 or to an imprisonment term of not more than three months, or maybe to both imprisonment and fine. So far, Sir, the licence of a food centre stallholder was revoked last month when it was found that she had obtained the food from an illegal source.