NEA to take action against unlicensed trade fair at Kovan

SINGAPORE: — An unlicensed trade fair at Kovan City will be taken to task by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for operating without a permit, just days after the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council was found guilty of holding a Chinese New Year Fair without a permit.

The fair in question was held outside Heartland Mall, which is within Aljunied GRC. It started on Monday (Nov 24) and ceased operations yesterday. The organiser, Colorzon Events and Design, had gone ahead with the fair without the permit. The company did not respond to Channel NewsAsia’s queries at the time of publication.

Shopkeepers in the area say the fair featured stallholders selling items like handphones and children’s clothing. Under the Environmental Public Health Act, all operators of trade fairs must get an NEA permit, to ensure they can meet concerns over issues like food hygiene, waste management and noise nuisance.

The NEA told Channel NewsAsia it had warned the operator twice, last Tuesday and Wednesday, to cease operations of its unlicensed fair but Colorzon failed to do so. The NEA said it will now proceed with enforcement action. It did not give a timeframe, but said Colorzon will have to attend court in due course.

Under stricter laws that kicked in on April 1, the company could be fined up to S$10,000 if found guilty. The maximum fine was previously up to S$1,000.

Since 2011, the NEA has taken action against the operators of 16 unlicensed fairs located at Tampines, Toa Payoh, Simei, Clementi, Kovan City, Bukit Merah, Kampong Glam, Chinatown, Serangoon North, Rivervale Walk and Tanglin Halt. CHANNEL NEWSASIA