Ba Shu Hotpot - False declaration?
- Source: ST, AVA Singapore
- Oct 11, 2017
- 3 min read
Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has reportedly fined and seized the latest popular instant food, Ba Shu Hotpots that contain meat according to the agency’s statement to The Straits Times (ST) on Oct 9, 2017 (Monday).
The agency added that they have not approved the import of instant hotpot food products containing meat.
Ba Shu Hotpot, otherwise known as Ba Shu Lan Ren, is an instant hotpot brand from Chengdu, China. It comes in mala (Chinese for “spicy”) several flavors, original, rice and meat, and beef.
It is one of the instant hotpot brands that are being sold online via websites such as Qoo10, Shopee Singapore and the shopping app, Carousell.
[Photo: Screenshot via Carousell]
There are currently 6 main suppliers of Ba Shu Lan Ren in Singapore. They were so popular that over 10, 000 individual packs were sold in May, 2017.
AVA informed one of the suppliers, Joneve Trading in early August, 2017 to suspend the import and sale of hotpots. The co-founder of the firm, Ms Eve Lim told the ST that she thought all was well since AVA has issued her a valid license.
What was the problem, then?
The Cargo Clearance Permit issued to Joneve Trading was for food items which do not contain meat and seafood. As a result, this constituted a false declaration as the product actually contains meat.
Regulatory Check- What permits or registration were required?
Authority responsible: AVA (Meat), Quarantine and Inspection Department (QID), Import & Export Regulation Division (IERD), Food Section.
Condition of meat import: Meat and meat products may be imported, exported, and transshipped in frozen, chilled, processed or canned form.
License required: AVA Licence for Import/Export and Transhipment of Meat Products and Fish Products
Meat and meat products may only be imported from AVA approved sources.
The list of countries and establishments approved to export meat to Singapore:
Each Consignment must be accompanied with
an import permit issued by AVA (Meat)
a veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country certifying that Singapore’s requirements for animal health and food safety have been complied with.
Traders may apply for the import permit by declaring the import via the TradeNet System.
Things to declare for permit application:
AVA (Meat and Fish) licence no. in the Licence/Certificate no. field.
Product information in the:
CA/SC Product Code field - e.g. MCF002 for frozen Chicken Breast, bone-in
CA/SC Product Quantity field - nett quantity at item level, e.g. 10.00
CA/SC Product Unit of Quantity field - e.g. TNE
CA/SC Code1 field - Establishment Code (consists of country code + processing plant no.)
CA/SC Code2 field – Health Certificate no.
List of product codes:
After submission of permit application via TradeNet, Traders are required to fax in:
a copy of the health certificate
other supporting documents (bill of lading, invoice, sales contract)
to AVA HQ office (Fax no.: 63257648), for verification.
All relevant documents must bear the Unique Reference No. of the trade declaration for easy reference.
Once the permit application is approved, you can print the Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) and use it for customs clearance. Conditions stated in the CCP will have to be complied with.
Original health certificates are to be submitted to the AVA inspectors during inspection of the imported consignment.
Penalties:
Those convicted of importing food from unapproved sources can be fined up to $50,000 and/or jailed for up to two years for the first conviction.
In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, they can be fined up to $100,000 and/or jailed for up to three years.
Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/import-of-instant-hotpot-products-not-approved-by-ava-importers-fined-and-products-seized
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