Man illegally imported 200 kg of rabbit into Singapore

SINGAPORE - A traveller who arrived from China was fined S $17,500 on Thursday for illegally importing more than 200 kg of meat including rabbit into Singapore.

On June 8, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ICA found about 226 kg of frozen meat products in eight bags belonging to him, after he was arrested by officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ICA at Changi Airport.

The meat included chicken, beef, pork, mutton and rabbit meat from China.

The Singapore Food Agency SFA alerted ICA and the meat products were seized and destroyed.

Food imports into Singapore must meet its requirements, according to SFA.

It said that food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every shipment must be declared and accompanied by a valid import permit. Illegal food products are of unknown origin and pose a food safety risk. It said meat and meat products can only be imported from accredited sources in countries that comply with food safety standards and requirements.

Offenders who illegally import meat products from unapproved sources can be fined up to S $50,000 and jailed for up to two years or both upon first offense.

Those who are convicted for a crime can be fined up to S $100,000 and jailed for up to three years or more.