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AVA seizes ‘self-heating’ hotpots containing meat; importers fined

SINGAPORE – The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has fined the importers of “self-heating” hotpots that contain meat and seized the products as they were not approved for import.

AVA has not approved the import of instant hotpot products containing meat such as Ba Shu Hotpot (in photo). Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY

AVA has not approved the import of instant hotpot products containing meat such as Ba Shu Hotpot (in photo). Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY

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SINGAPORE – The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has fined the importers of “self-heating” hotpots that contain meat and seized the products as they were not approved for import.

Pointing out that an AVA certificate circulating online for instant hotpot products that contain meat is fake, the authority said it did not approve the import of these products.

Food products containing meat can “only be imported from approved sources that comply with AVA food safety standards and requirements, as these products could carry animal and food-borne diseases of public health and trade importance,” said an AVA spokesperson in a response to TODAY’s queries on Monday (Oct 9).

The spokesperson declined to reveal how much the importer was fined, and how many of the affected products were seized. However, she added that the agency has taken enforcement action against six importers and four sellers for selling instant hotpots containing meat.

One example of such products is the popular “Ba Shu Hotpot” – an instant hotpot brand from China that comes in flavours such as rice and meat, and beef. The products come with a heat pack that generates enough heat in room temperature water to steam a small bowl of ingredients for up to 20 minutes.

Such products were widely available for sale on online shopping sites.

The AVA stressed that licensed food importers are required to ensure that the food products comply with the AVA’s food safety requirements and standards, regardless of where it is sold. 

“AVA conducts inspections and surveillance, including sampling for testing, on imported food products to ensure compliance with food safety requirements and standards,” the spokesperson added.

Members of the public should purchase food from “reputable sources” and exercise discretion when purchasing food online. When in doubt of the safety or the food product, the AVA cautioned the public not to purchase or consume it.

Anyone who imports food from unapproved sources can be fined up to S$50,000 and/or jailed up to two years or to both for the first conviction. In the second or subsequent conviction, an individual can be fined up to S$100,000 or jailed up to three years or both.

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