SINGAPORE is considering introducing tougher penalties for food safety violations as well as a storage framework, among several measures to improve its food security.

This is part of the Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB) presented to Parliament on Tuesday (November 12) by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Environment (MSE).

The bill pursues three objectives, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement.

First, it seeks to consolidate and update existing food-related legislation. Its second objective is to strengthen Singapore’s food safety regime to better protect consumers and public health, and its third objective is to keep pace with emerging challenges in safeguarding food safety.

Food security

As part of food security, the Bill will introduce a Minimum Storage Requirement (MSR), which will enable future food storage programs if necessary.

Singapore already has a rice storage system, under which rice importers must store rice as part of their import license. This will now fall under the MSR.

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The MSR framework provides more effective levers to ensure compliance and allows the government to extend similar stockpiling programs to other essential food products or agri-food production inputs if necessary, the SFA said.

This future-proofs Singapore’s food security levers, given the increased uncertainty and frequency of disruptions to the food supply.

In addition, local farms will need to develop agricultural management plans. This is to mitigate risks to food safety, the spread of disease and water quality to ensure a sustainable increase in food production, the SFA added.

Strengthening the food security regime

To strengthen Singapore’s food safety regime, the new bill expands the coverage of food safety legislation beyond the sale of food to the “supply” of food as well, which includes donations and free distribution .

Major food distribution nodes, including importers and food processing companies, will need to maintain records for traceability and recalls. This is to facilitate timely reminders if necessary.

Maximum penalties will also be increased, to further deter non-compliance. Penalties will be tiered based on severity, and higher penalties will be applied to repeat offenders or particularly egregious violations.

Recalcitrant offenders whose license is revoked will also be prohibited from holding new licenses of the same type for a specific period of time.

Consolidate existing legislation

By consolidating existing legislation, the new bill will bring clarity to the industry, the SFA said. For example, food importers will only need to refer to the FSSB, instead of having to research different laws.

The FSSB will not prescribe operational details for food businesses and feed producers to ensure food safety. Instead, licensees will be required to maintain food and feed control plans.

Consumers will also benefit from greater flexibility in the quantity of food products they can import for private consumption. The cap will be increased to 15kg per person in all categories, compared to the current limit of 5kg for meat and seafood and a “small reasonable amount” of fruit and vegetables.

With the FSSB, there will no longer be a limit on the countries of origin from which meat can be imported for private consumption. However, food products of “greater regulatory concern”, such as animal blood and game meat, will continue to be banned.