Several Notes on Food Additives in Products Exported to Singapore
The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore said that the Singapore Food Authority (SFA) has statedthe discovery of the banned substance Sibutramine in the ingredients of three coffee products: KetoDiet Coffee from Malaysia, ChoCo Premix Coffee, and V-SHOU Premium Coffee (unknown origin).
SFA advises consumers not to purchase or use these products. Sibutramine is an ingredient in weight loss pills and can only be used under a doctor’s prescription. Sibutramine has been banned in Singapore since 2010 due to the risk of heart attack, stroke, and some central nervous system disorders in users.
Under Section 15 of the Singapore Food Business Act, it is illegal to distribute unsafe food in Singapore. Any person or business that contravenes any provision of the Act is guilty of an offense and is liable to a fine not exceeding S$5,000; for a second or subsequent conviction, a fine not exceeding S$10,000, and/or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months. The SFA said it would take strict action against any person or business that sells or supplies unsafe food products adulterated with prohibited substances.
According to Mr. Cao Xuan Thang, Trade Counselor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, Singapore is a market with high and strict requirements for food safety. Updating, understanding, and accurately following local food regulations is the first and most important requirement in producing and exporting food products to the Singapore market.
Food additives permitted for use in food products imported or manufactured for sale in Singapore are specified in the Food Regulation.
Vietnamese food enterprises should regularly check the ingredients in their products, ensuring that they only use permitted food additives and that the content used is within the maximum level allowed under Singapore regulations.
According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, in June 2024, the total import-export turnover between Vietnam and Singapore reached more than 2.49 billion SGD, an increase of 7.43% over the same period in 2023. Of which, exports from Vietnam to Singapore continued to achieve high growth (21.84%) with a value of 653.9 million SGD, and import turnover increased by 3.1%, reaching more than 1.84 billion SGD.
In terms of origin of goods, temporarily imported and re-exported goods via Singapore to Vietnam account for nearly 69.38% of the total export turnover from Singapore to Vietnam, equivalent to 7.79 billion SGD. Meanwhile, if only goods originating from Singapore are counted, Vietnam has a trade surplus of about 506.52 million SGD.
