Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on detecting food fraud

Sep 11, 2017

Mr Chong Kee Hiong: To ask the Minister for National Development

(a) what measures does the Ministry have to counter the increasingly challenging problem of food fraud in the global supply chains; and

(b) whether the Ministry can provide an update on the equipment, facilities and manpower investments and training to detect food fraud.

Answer:

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has a comprehensive regulatory regime to ensure that the food we eat in Singapore is safe.  This includes measures to protect our food supply from fraudulent practices such as substitution, adulteration, counterfeiting, and misrepresentation.

First, AVA ensures that food in Singapore comes from approved sources.  All imported food products must comply with AVA’s food safety legislation and requirements.  These requirements also apply to food produced in Singapore.

Second, before food products enter the market, AVA regularly tests samples to ensure that the food is safe and authentic.  This includes species identification and adulteration tests.  Food products that fail these tests will not be allowed for sale.

As a pre-emptive measure, AVA scans for food-related news internationally to anticipate possible food-related fraud.  AVA also investigates all allegations of food fraud in Singapore.  Affected products will be removed from sale, and AVA will take enforcement action against any entity that intentionally adulterates food or misleads customers.  Offenders may be fined up to $10,000 and/ or imprisoned for up to 3 months.  In addition, the implicated product will be destroyed and the licence may be suspended depending on the investigation.

Significant resources are allocated to keeping our food supply safe, with more than 270 officers involved in this work.  In terms of training, officers regularly attend conferences and workshops to keep abreast of developments in food technologies and testing methodologies.  AVA’s laboratories are also fitted with advanced equipment.  For example, AVA uses the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer to detect whether honey has been adulterated by sugar.  It also uses a DNA Thermocycler to differentiate meat types.