SINGAPORE: Tougher penalties will be imposed on food safety violators under a new bill tabled in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 12).

Introduced by the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE), the Food Safety and Security Bill seeks to strengthen and update current food laws, strengthen Singapore’s food safety regime to better protect public health and address emerging challenges in matters of food security.

Under the bill, maximum penalties will be raised to deter non-compliance and will be benchmarked against the seriousness and culpability of offences, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a media briefing.

There will be increased penalties for repeat offenders and companies, offenses involving unsafe food causing illness, injury and physical harm, and offenses that are knowingly committed.

The bill proposes that repeat offenders face a maximum fine of US$50,000 ($37,600) and/or up to two years in prison, while corporate entities could be fined up to US$100,000.

Those whose licenses have been revoked due to fraud or multiple food safety losses will be barred from holding new licenses of the same type for up to three years.

People who have been banned from their license are not allowed to hold executive positions such as CEO or director of the same type of food business, the SFA said.

“This prevents unfit and unfit persons from operating food businesses that could endanger human or public health.”

For “flagrant license holders” whose license has been revoked, the bill will also provide “discretionary powers” to ban their license applications to operate other food businesses at the same or other premises, the SFA said .

In addition, those who are considered “associates”, such as spouses or relatives, will take into account the relationship with disqualified offenders when the SFA assesses their license application, the agency added.

Several food operators have made headlines this year after customers fell ill from eating contaminated food.

In April, Chinese restaurant operations Thomson Plaza Branch in Peach Garden were suspended for a month after dozens fell ill with symptoms of gastroenteritis.

An incident of mass food poisoning at ByteDance office in Singapore in July, more than 160 people reported symptoms of gastroenteritis. Two caterers that provided food – Yun Hai Yao at Northpoint City and Pu Tien Services at Senoko South Road – have suspended operations.

Stamford Catering Services was struck with a similar fate when more than 50 people fell ill in October.