FOOD PACKAGING (Use of post-office box number as address on label)

Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Minister for the Environment whether a post office box number can be used as an address on food packaging under the Sale of Food Act.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: A post-office box number by itself cannot be used as an address on the label of a prepacked food product. This is specifically stated in the Food Regulations.

The full address needs to be given as this would allow officers of the Ministry of the Environment to go straight to the premises of the manufacturer, packer, importer, vendor, etc, without loss of time, to carry out any investigations. A post-office box number would not enable this to be done expeditiously.