Sale of Food (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 42/2017

Read the first time on 2 October 2017.
An Act to amend the Sale of Food Act (Chapter 283 of the 2002 Revised Edition) and to make consequential and related amendments to certain other Acts.
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:
Short title and commencement
1.  This Act is the Sale of Food (Amendment) Act 2017 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.
Amendment of long title
2.  The long title to the Sale of Food Act (called in this Act the principal Act) is amended by deleting the words “for securing wholesomeness and purity of food and fixing standards for the same; for preventing the sale or other disposition, or the use of articles dangerous or injurious to health; to provide for the regulation of food establishments” and substituting the words “for regulating food to ensure that food for sale is safe and suitable for human consumption and to promote public health, for ensuring the provision of information relating to food to enable consumers to make informed choices and for preventing misleading conduct in connection with the sale of food”.
Amendment of section 2
3.  Section 2 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the definition of “advertisement” and substituting the following definition:
“ “advertisement” means any of the following where used or apparently used to promote, directly or indirectly, the sale of food:
(a)any words, whether written or in an audible message;
(b)any still or moving picture, sign, symbol or other visual image or representation;
(c)any combination of 2 or more of those things in paragraph (a) or (b),
but does not include communications of personal opinion made by an individual (for no commercial gain) to the public or a section of the public in relation to any goods or services, brand of goods or services, or person who provides goods or services;”;
(b)by deleting the definition of “appliance”;
(c)by deleting the definitions of “food” and “food establishment” and substituting the following definitions:
“ “fish” means any species of fish (whether marine or freshwater), and includes —
(a)crustacea, shellfish, echinoderm and molluscs; and
(b)the eggs and young of any fish;
“fish product” means any of the following intended for human consumption:
(a)part of any fish;
(b)any product derived from processing or preserving fish;
(c)any product containing fish;
“food” has the meaning given by section 2A;
“food business” has the meaning given by section 2B;
“food contact article” means the whole or any part of any utensil, machinery, instrument, device, apparatus, container, appliance or article that is used, or that is designed or intended for use, in or in connection with the handling of food, but does not include any pipe, water fitting, apparatus or appliance used for the supply of water by the Public Utilities Board;
“food premises” means any premises at, on or from which food is sold, or handled with the intention that it be sold, and includes —
(a)a food vending machine; or
(b)any premises used for a primary food production business,
but does not include any description of premises declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be a food premises;
“food regulation” means any regulation made under section 56;
“handling”, in relation to food for sale, includes any one or more of the following:
(a)making or manufacturing the food;
(b)processing or preserving the food;
(c)cooking, defrosting, heating or preparing the food;
(d)storing, packing or labelling the food;
(e)transporting or delivering the food;
(f)displaying the food;
(g)serving the food,
but does not include primary food production;”;
(d)by deleting the definition of “label” and substituting the following definitions:
“ “intended use”, in relation to food, means the use of the food that is specifically stated, or could reasonably be presumed to be intended, taking into account the food’s nature, labelling, packaging and identification;
“label” includes any tag, brand, mark or statement in writing or any representation or design or other descriptive matter on or attached to or used or displayed in connection with or accompanying any food or package containing food;
“licence” means a licence issued under Part IV;
“licensee” means a person who is the holder of a licence;
“manufacturing”, in relation to food for sale, includes any one or more of the following:
(a)making food by combining ingredients;
(b)significantly changing the condition or nature of food by any process, such as milling flour or peeling, cutting and freezing fruits;
(c)bottling or canning food, including bottling water;
(d)making ice,
but does not include —
(i)cooking or otherwise preparing food at a particular place for retail sale at the place, including sale for immediate consumption; or
(ii)making ice at a particular place for use at the place;
“meat” includes any part of slaughtered poultry, bovine animal, ovine animal, caprine animal, porcine animal, game or other animal, that is intended for human consumption;
“meat product” means any of the following intended for human consumption:
(a)offal or other part of a carcase;
(b)any product derived from processing or preserving meat;
(c)any product containing meat;
“non‑retail food business” has the meaning given by section 2F;”;
(e)by deleting the definitions of “premises”, “sale” or “sell” and “substance” and substituting the following definitions:
“ “premises” includes —
(a)land (whether or not vacant);
(b)the whole or any part of a building, tent, stall or other structure (whether of a permanent or temporary nature);
(c)a vehicle; and
(d)a pontoon;
“prepare” includes manufacture, process and treat;
“primary food production” means the growing, raising, cultivation, picking, harvesting, collection or catching of food, and includes the following:
(a)the transport or delivery of food on, from or between premises on which it was grown, raised, cultivated, picked, harvested, collected or caught;
(b)the packing, treating (for example, washing) or storing of food on the premises on which it was grown, raised, cultivated, picked, harvested, collected or caught;
(c)the storage of food in a silo that is not connected with a food processing operation and the transport or delivery of food from, between or to such silos;
(d)the sale of livestock at sale yards and the transport of livestock to and from sale yards;
(e)any other food production activity that is prescribed as primary food production for the purposes of this Act,
but does not include —
(i)any process involving the substantial transformation of food (for example, manufacturing or canning), regardless of whether the process is carried out on the premises on which the food was grown, raised, cultivated, picked, harvested, collected or caught;
(ii)the sale or service of food directly to the public; or
(iii)any other food production activity that is declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be primary food production for the purposes of this Act;
“primary food production business” means a business or an undertaking or activity that involves, in whole or part, primary food production;
“proprietor” means —
(a)for a food business —
(i)the person carrying on the food business; or
(ii)if the person in sub‑paragraph (i) cannot be identified, the person in charge of the food business; and
(b)for any food premises — the proprietor of the food business that operates at, on or from the premises;
“public health” means the health of —
(a)the people in Singapore; or
(b)a community or section of those people;
“requirement of this Act” means —
(a)a requirement of or under a provision of this Act;
(b)a requirement of or under any food regulation;
(c)a requirement of a notice or order given by the Director‑General under this Act;
(d)a requirement of a direction given by the Authority under Part IIA; or
(e)a condition imposed by or under this Act or any food regulation;
“retail food business” means a business or an undertaking or activity at a food establishment within the meaning of the Environmental Public Health Act (Cap. 95) which is used for a purpose specified in the First Schedule to that Act;
“sell” has the meaning given by section 2E;
“statutory authority” means a body corporate established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function, and includes a Town Council;
“substance” includes any liquid, mixture or compound;
“unsafe”, in relation to food, has the meaning given by section 2C;
“unsuitable”, in relation to food, has the meaning given by section 2D;
“vehicle” means any means of transport, whether self‑propelled or not, and whether used on land or sea or in the air, such as an aircraft, a vessel, train, motor vehicle or personal mobility device.”; and
(f)by deleting the section heading and substituting the following section heading:
“General interpretation”.
New sections 2A to 2F
4.  The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 2, the following sections:
“Meaning of “food”
2A.—(1)  In this Act, “food” includes the following:
(a)any substance or thing of a kind used, capable of being used, or represented as being for use, for human consumption (whether it is live, raw, prepared or partly prepared);
(b)any substance or thing of a kind used, capable of being used, or represented as being for use, as an ingredient or additive in a substance or thing mentioned in paragraph (a);
(c)any substance used in preparing a substance or thing mentioned in paragraph (a) (other than a substance used in preparing a living thing);
(d)chewing gum or an ingredient or additive in chewing gum, or any substance used in preparing chewing gum;
(e)any substance or thing declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette to be food.
(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), “food” includes —
(a)unprocessed and raw fruits and vegetables that are intended for human consumption;
(b)seeds, plants, or plant material intended for human consumption, including seeds that are intended to be sprouted and consumed as sprouts, but not other seeds, plants, or plant material intended for planting;
(c)drinking water;
(d)any thing that is or is intended to be mixed with or added to any food or drink;
(e)milk and dairy products;
(f)meat and meat products;
(g)fish and fish products; and
(h)eggs.
(3)  However, food does not include —
(a)any health product within the meaning of the Health Products Act (Cap. 122D);
(b)any substance that is a medicinal product within the meaning of the Medicines Act (Cap. 176);
(c)any controlled drug, controlled material or controlled substance within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185);
(d)any poison within the meaning of the Poisons Act (Cap. 234);
(e)any cosmetics;
(f)any tobacco product or tobacco substitute within the meaning of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (Cap. 309);
(g)any package (except edible packaging);
(h)any fodder or feeding stuffs for animals; or
(i)any substance or thing declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be food for the purposes of this Act.
(4)  A substance, thing or chewing gum described in subsection (1) is food regardless of whether or not it is in a condition fit for human consumption.
(5)  To avoid doubt, “food” may include live animals and plants.
Meaning of “food business”
2B.—(1)  In this Act, “food business” means a business or an undertaking or activity that involves, in whole or part —
(a)the handling of food intended for sale;
(b)the sale of food (on the Internet or otherwise); or
(c)primary food production,
regardless of whether the business, undertaking or activity concerned is of a commercial, charitable or community nature, or whether it involves the handling or sale of food on one occasion only, and whether part of a non‑retail food business or a retail food business.
(2)  However, a food business does not include a business or an undertaking or activity —
(a)that is part of a business other than trading in food and, in the course of which doing so, acts as an intermediary between persons who trade in food by providing, for reward, a place (including mobile premises) or services (such as an Internet service provider or an auction site on the Internet);
(b)that consists exclusively of letting for hire marquees, tables, chairs and other similar furniture; or
(c)that is declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be a food business for the purposes of this Act.
Meaning of unsafe food
2C.—(1)  For the purposes of this Act, food is unsafe at a particular time if it would be likely to cause illness or injury or other physical harm to a person who might later consume it, assuming —
(a)it was, after that particular time and before being consumed by the person, properly subjected to all processes (if any) that are relevant to its reasonable intended use;
(b)nothing happened to it after that particular time and before being consumed by the person that would prevent it being used for its reasonable intended use; and
(c)it was consumed by the person according to its reasonable intended use.
(2)  However, food is not unsafe for the purposes of this Act merely because —
(a)any individual objects to it because of personal preference;
(b)any part of the community objects to it on moral, ethical, cultural, spiritual, or religious grounds;
(c)its consumption in inappropriate quantities may damage an individual’s health; or
(d)its presence or consumption is unhealthy for any individual who has an allergy or other personal health condition.
(3)  In subsection (1)(a), a reference to processes includes a reference to processes involving storage and preparation.
Meaning of unsuitable food
2D.—(1)  For the purposes of this Act, food is unsuitable if it is food that —
(a)is damaged, deteriorated or perished to an extent that affects its reasonable intended use;
(b)contains, or has attached to it or enclosed with it, any damaged, deteriorated, perished or contaminated substance or thing to an extent that affects its reasonable intended use;
(c)is the product of a diseased animal, or an animal that has died otherwise than by slaughter, and has not been declared by or under another Act to be safe for human consumption;
(d)contains a biological or chemical agent, or other matter or substance, that is foreign to the nature of the food and the presence of which would be unexpected and unreasonable in food prepared or packed for sale in accordance with good trade practice; or
(e)has packaging that is damaged, deteriorated, perished or contaminated to the extent of affecting the food’s reasonable intended use.
(2)  However, food is not unsuitable for the purposes of this Act merely because —
(a)at any particular time before it is sold for human consumption it contains an agricultural or veterinary chemical;
(b)when it is sold for human consumption it contains an agricultural or veterinary chemical or other contaminant, so long as it does not contain the chemical or contaminant in an amount that contravenes any food regulations;
(c)any individual objects to it because of personal preference;
(d)any part of the community objects to it on moral, ethical, cultural, spiritual, or religious grounds;
(e)its consumption in inappropriate quantities may damage an individual’s health; or
(f)its presence or consumption is unhealthy for any individual who has an allergy or other personal health condition.
(3)  In this section, a reference to slaughter of an animal includes a reference to the killing of an animal in the process of capturing, taking or harvesting it for the purposes of preparing it for use as food.
Meaning of “sell”
2E.—(1)  In this Act, “sell” includes carrying on any of the following activities, or a combination of those activities, in relation to food for human consumption or to a food contact article:
(a)bartering;
(b)offering for sale or attempting to sell;
(c)receiving, or having in possession, for sale;
(d)displaying for sale;
(e)causing or permitting to be sold or offered or displayed for sale;
(f)sending, forwarding or delivering for sale;
(g)disposing of by any method for valuable consideration;
(h)disposing of to an agent for sale on consignment;
(i)supplying as a meal or part of a meal to an employee or other individual in accordance with an employment agreement or an agreement for services under a contract of service for consumption by the employee or individual at the employee’s or individual’s place of work;
(j)disposing of by way of raffle, lottery or other game of chance;
(k)offering as a prize or reward;
(l)offering or giving away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of any trade or business;
(m)supplying under a contract (whether or not the contract is made with the consumer of the food), together with any accommodation, service or entertainment, in consideration of an inclusive charge for the food supplied and the accommodation, service or entertainment;
(n)supplying food (whether or not for consideration) in the course of providing services —
(i)to patients in hospitals, hospices and other residential care facilities like nursing homes;
(ii)to children or other individuals in the care or custody of the supplier by virtue of any Act; or
(iii)to prisoners or inmates in prisons or other places for the detention of individuals under any Act;
(o)supplying anything of which any food forms a part;
(p)selling for the purpose of resale for handling or human consumption.
(2)  Despite subsection (1), in this Act, “sell”, in relation to food, does not include —
(a)exchanging food for food or other goods or services as part of a personal relationship between individuals that is not commercial in nature; or
(b)supplying food together with accommodation to a person residing at a private residence in exchange for services or labour by the person.
(3)  For the purposes of this Act —
(a)food that is displayed for the purpose of being offered as a prize or reward or given away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of trade or business is taken to have been displayed for sale by the owner of the food;
(b)food that is donated for a charitable or benevolent purpose is not to be taken to be food that was given away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of trade or business;
(c)food which is exposed or deposited in any premises for the purpose of being so offered as a prize or reward or given away is taken to have been exposed for sale by the occupier of the premises;
(d)food that is sold for the purpose of being mixed with any other food is to be treated, unless the contrary is proved, as sale if the bulk or product produced by the mixing, or any part of the bulk or product, is intended to be sold; and
(e)food that is sold, offered for sale, or displayed for sale is to be treated, unless the contrary is proved, as a sale, offer for sale or display for sale of the food for human consumption.
Meaning of “non‑retail food business”
2F.—(1)  In this Act, “non‑retail food business” means a food business that is —
(a)not carried out for a purpose specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Public Health Act (Cap. 95); and
(b)not a primary food production business,
but includes a food business a component of which is a business, an undertaking or activity carried out for a purpose specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Public Health Act.
(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), a non‑retail food business includes (but is not limited to) any of the following food businesses:
(a)a factory, plant or other premises where meat products or fish products are processed for sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(b)the preparing or packing of ready‑to‑eat salads for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(c)the manufacturing, preparing or packing of chilled, frozen and shelf‑stable meals, condiments or prepared foods for sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(d)the manufacturing, preparing (including by cutting, mincing, boning, drying, smoking or fermentation after slaughter or harvesting) or packing of meat, poultry or fish products for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(e)the manufacturing of bottled drinking water or non‑alcoholic beverages, for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(f)brewers and distillers of vinegar, soya sauce or fish sauce for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(g)wholesale bakeries supplying food prepared to wholesalers or retail food businesses;
(h)the processing or packing of herbs or spices for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(i)manufacturing or preparing (including by blending and packing) dry mix products such as cake mix, drinking chocolate, tea bags and powdered soup for sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export;
(j)a wholesale market where any animal, meat product, fish or fish product is sold wholesale or through auction;
(k)central kitchens supplying food prepared, cooked and packed for the purpose of distribution to retail food businesses;
(l)an operator of a warehouse or cold storage facility for the storage of food intended for sale, whether by wholesalers or retail food businesses.
(3)  In subsection (2)(c), “shelf‑stable”, in relation to food, means that —
(a)the food can be stored at room or ambient temperature before its packaging is opened; and
(b)the food may or may not require refrigeration after its packaging is opened.”.
Amendment of section 4
5.  Section 4 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the word “appliance” in subsections (1)(a), (b), (d), (e) and (f) and (4) and substituting in each case the words “food contact article”;
(b)by deleting the words “contrary to this Act” in subsection (1)(d) and (e) and substituting in each case the words “contrary or not in compliance with an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food or food contact articles”;
(c)by deleting the word “making” in subsection (1)(f) and substituting the word “manufacturing”; and
(d)by deleting the words “in Form 1 in the First Schedule” in subsection (4) and substituting the words “in the form prescribed or designed under section 53”.
Amendment of section 5
6.  Section 5 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the words “For the purpose of discharging his functions and duties under this Act, an” in subsection (1) and substituting the words “Subject to subsection (6), an”; and
(b)by inserting, immediately after subsection (5), the following subsection:
“(6)  The powers conferred under subsection (1) may only be exercised by an authorised officer —
(a)to determine whether an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food, food contact articles or food businesses has been, or is being, complied with;
(b)to ensure that an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food, food contact articles and food businesses has been, or is being, or will be, complied with;
(c)to investigate anything that may have, or might potentially have, contaminated food or a food contact article;
(d)to determine whether food or a food contact article is safe or suitable;
(e)to determine whether food or a food contact article poses a risk to human life or public health; or
(f)to investigate any offence under this Act or any contravention of or non‑compliance with an applicable requirement of this Act.”.
Amendment of section 10
7.  Section 10(1) of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “in Form 2 in the First Schedule” and substituting the words “in the form prescribed or designed under section 53”.
New Part IIA
8.  The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 10, the following Part:
“PART IIA
FOOD SAFETY MEASURES
Division 1 — General provisions
Persons to whom directions may be given
10A.  The Authority may give a direction under this Part to all or any of the following, individually or as a class:
(a)a licensee;
(b)a proprietor of a food business or food premises, if not a licensee;
(c)an importer of any food or food contact article;
(d)an exporter of any food or food contact article;
(e)a manufacturer of any food contact article;
(f)a person carrying on a business of selling or supplying (by wholesale or retail) any food contact article;
(g)a person in control of, or reasonably appearing to be in control of, food or any thing that may become food.
Content and effect of directions
10B.—(1)  A direction under this Part is binding on —
(a)the person to whom it is addressed; and
(b)if applicable, the personal representatives, successors and assignees of the person to whom it is addressed to the same extent as it applies to that person.
(2)  A direction under this Part must be in writing, or be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable after being given orally.
(3)  In making a direction under this Part, it is not necessary for the Authority to give any person who may be affected by the direction a chance to be heard before the direction is given.
(4)  A direction under this Part must state —
(a)whether the person to whom it is given must —
(i)advise the Authority of the details of the manner in which the person proposes to comply with the direction;
(ii)keep information about the matters that are the subject of the direction;
(iii)regularly notify the Authority about the steps being taken towards compliance with the direction; or
(iv)give written notice to the Authority when the person has complied with the direction;
(b)that it is an offence under this Act to fail to comply with the direction;
(c)that if the person to whom the direction is given fails to comply with it, the Authority may carry out the direction; and
(d)that if the Authority carries out the direction, the Authority may recover the costs reasonably incurred in carrying out the direction from the person to whom the direction was given.
(5)  A direction under this Part continues in force until the earlier of the following occurs:
(a)the expiry date (if any) stated in the direction is reached;
(b)the Authority revokes the direction.
(6)  A direction under this Part may —
(a)be amended or revoked at any time; and
(b)be extended or renewed, if the Authority is satisfied that the circumstances warrant it.
(7)  If a person to whom the direction is given fails or refuses to comply with it, the Authority may carry out the direction, and recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out the direction as a debt due from the person to whom the direction was given.
(8)  If satisfied that a direction under this Part has been complied with, the Authority must —
(a)revoke the direction; and
(b)give written notice of the revocation in the same manner in which the direction was given or served.
(9)  Subsection (5) does not prevent a further direction being made in the same terms as a direction that has expired.
Service of directions under this Part
10C.—(1)  A direction under this Part that is addressed to a person is sufficiently served if it is —
(a)delivered personally to the person by an authorised officer;
(b)served in the manner prescribed in section 44; or
(c)if the name and address of the proprietor of any food premises is unknown, affixed to the food premises.
(2)  A direction under this Part that is addressed to a class of persons is sufficiently served if it is —
(a)served on each of the persons in the class in accordance with subsection (1); or
(b)published both —
(i)in a daily newspaper circulating in Singapore or in any other news media that, in the opinion of the Authority, will be most likely to bring the direction to the attention of the persons who belong to the class; and
(ii)on the Authority’s official website.
(3)  A direction under this Part that is addressed to a statutory authority is sufficiently served if it is served on the chief executive (however described) of the statutory authority in accordance with subsection (1).
(4)  A direction under this Part that is served —
(a)in accordance with subsection (1) takes effect when it is served;
(b)in accordance with subsection (2)(a) takes effect when it is served on all the persons in the class in question; and
(c)in accordance with subsection (2)(b) takes effect at the beginning of the day after the date on which subsection (2)(b) has been complied with.
Division 2 — Directions
General corrective action direction
10D.—(1)  The Authority may give a direction to any of the persons described in section 10A about the taking of preventative or corrective action in respect of food or a food contact article that the Authority reasonably believes is necessary (whether or not from the report of an authorised analyst or authorised officer) to ensure compliance with an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food or food contact articles.
(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), “corrective action”, in the case of a direction given to a food business, includes requiring the proprietor of the food business to do any one or more of the following:
(a)take specified steps to ensure that food raised, cultivated, harvested, caught, prepared, sold or otherwise handled at the premises at which the food business is carried out is safe and suitable;
(b)take specified steps to ensure that those premises, or any vehicle, plant, food contact article, machinery or equipment used on those premises in connection with any food raised, cultivated, harvested, caught, prepared, sold or otherwise handled at those premises is cleaned and disinfected or put into an altered condition to the satisfaction of an authorised officer;
(c)ensure that any applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food or food contact articles is complied with;
(d)until the corrective action in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is complied with, ensure that —
(i)the premises at which the food business is carried out, or a specified area of the premises, is not used for the raising, cultivation, harvesting, catching, preparation, sale or other handling of food or an activity connected with food specified in the direction;
(ii)any vehicle, plant, food contact article, machinery or equipment on those premises is not used in connection with the raising, cultivation, harvesting, catching, preparation, sale or other handling of food or an activity connected with food specified in the direction; or
(iii)any food or class of food specified in the direction is not removed from those premises, for any purpose (including any purpose specified in the direction) or in any circumstances specified in the direction, for the period of time that is specified in the direction.
Direction to impose movement controls
10E.—(1)  The Authority may give a direction in subsection (2) if it reasonably suspects (whether or not from the report of an authorised analyst or authorised officer) —
(a)that food or any thing that may become food, or a food contact article, does not comply with an applicable requirement of this Act; or
(b)the existence of a hazard or a source of contamination that may affect food or any thing that may become food.
(2)  The direction may impose movement or related controls to determine, minimise, manage, or control the risk to human life or public health created by the suspected non‑compliance or suspected existence of the hazard or the source of contamination.
(3)  A direction under this section must specify the suspected non‑compliance, hazard or source of contamination, including by reference to —
(a)a thing described in subsection (4);
(b)a place (where, for example, there may be contamination from the land or the environment); or
(c)a particular person or food business or a specified class of food business (where, for example, the contamination may have been caused by a human act or omission).
(4)  The controls may be imposed on all or any of the following:
(a)activities;
(b)areas or premises;
(c)food contact articles;
(d)vehicles;
(e)food;
(f)any thing that may become food;
(g)food businesses;
(h)anything else that the Authority suspects relates to the suspected non‑compliance or the suspected hazard or the source of suspected contamination.
(5)  The controls on those things described in subsection (4) may do all or any of the following in relation to a food contact article, or food or any thing that may become food:
(a)restrict its movement, sale, production, manufacturing or handling;
(b)apply conditions to its movement, sale, production, manufacturing or handling;
(c)prohibit its movement, sale, production, manufacturing or handling;
(d)require the taking of specific actions such as sampling and testing to determine the risk (if any) to human life or public health;
(e)require the taking of specific actions to minimise, manage, or control the risk to human life or public health;
(f)do anything else that is necessary to achieve the purpose described in subsection (2).
(6)  A direction under this section may —
(a)direct the keeping of information about the matters that are the subject of the direction;
(b)direct the provision of reports about matters that are the subject of the direction; or
(c)direct the person to whom the direction is given to notify the Authority when —
(i)the non‑compliance, hazard, or source of contamination has been identified;
(ii)the non‑compliance, hazard, or source of contamination has been minimised or removed; or
(iii)no non‑compliance, hazard, or source of contamination has been identified.
(7)  In this section, “hazard” means a biological, chemical or physical agent that —
(a)is in food or has the potential to be in food, or is a condition of food, or has the potential to affect the condition of food; and
(b)causes or could cause an adverse or injurious effect on human life or public health.
Direction to recall food or food contact article
10F.—(1)  The Authority may give any direction in subsection (2) to persons described in section 10A —
(a)for the purpose of examining, rectifying, controlling, or disposing of food or a food contact article, after taking into account any relevant information or warnings about food or a food contact article that the Authority has received from authorised officers, or an international organisation or authority; or
(b)if the Authority has reasonable grounds to believe that the direction is necessary —
(i)to prevent or reduce the possibility of a serious danger to public health; or
(ii)to mitigate the adverse consequences of a serious danger to public health.
(2)  The directions are —
(a)to recall food or a food contact article that is not safe or suitable or the safety or suitability of which is in doubt;
(b)to recall a food contact article that has, or for which there is doubt about whether it has, contaminated food or caused food to be no longer safe or suitable;
(c)to recall a food contact article if there is doubt about whether it may contaminate food;
(d)to recall food or a food contact article that is mislabelled or incorrectly identified;
(e)to take food or a food contact article recalled under any of paragraphs (a) to (d) to —
(i)a place specified in the directions; or
(ii)a place agreed to between the Authority and the person to whom the directions are given; or
(f)any directions that may be given under section 10G, as appropriate.
(3)  A direction to recall food or a food contact article may specify the manner in which, and must specify the period within which, the recall is to be conducted and completed.
(4)  A person who is required by a direction to recall food or a food contact article must give written notice to the Authority of the completion of the recall as soon as practicable after that completion.
(5)  If a person to whom the direction is given under this section fails or refuses to comply with it, the Authority may —
(a)take any reasonable steps necessary to ensure control of the food or food contact article (including entry by authorised officers to a place under a warrant); and
(b)recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in assuming control of the food or food contact article as a debt due from the person to whom the direction was given.
(6)  This section does not prevent the Authority exercising its power under section 10I.
Direction to manage food or food contact article
10G.—(1)  The Authority may give any direction in subsection (2) to persons described in section 10A if the Authority —
(a)reasonably believes that food or a food contact article that is already the subject of a direction under section 10E is not safe or suitable and further controls are required; or
(b)recalls food or a food contact article under section 10F.
(2)  The direction may be about doing or not doing any of the following to the food or food contact article:
(a)condemning or destroying it;
(b)disposing of or re‑exporting it;
(c)identifying it;
(d)handling, or re‑processing it;
(e)labelling or relabelling it;
(f)storing it;
(g)transporting it;
(h)sampling or testing it;
(i)advertising or selling it.
Direction to publish statement
10H.—(1)  The Authority may give to persons described in section 10A a direction about publishing a statement to the public, or to a class of persons specified in the direction, for the purpose of protecting the public or class of persons, as the case may be.
(2)  The Authority may specify that the statement must include all or any of the following:
(a)the nature of the problem, including (where applicable) —
(i)the particular food or type of food or food contact article to be recalled or disposed of;
(ii)the reasons why the food or food contact article is considered to be unsafe or unsuitable; and
(iii)the circumstances in which the consumption of the food is unsafe;
(b)the remedy that the person will provide;
(c)the way in which the person will prevent the problem arising in future.
(3)  The Authority may specify the actual words to be used in the statement or any part of it.
(4)  The Authority may specify all or any of the following:
(a)who must publish the statement;
(b)where the statement must be published;
(c)the date on which the statement must be published.
(5)  Statements published under this section are protected by absolute privilege.
Division 3 — Supplementary provisions
Compensation
10I.—(1)  A person bound by a direction under this Part who suffers loss as a result of the making of the direction may apply to the Authority for compensation if the person considers that there were insufficient grounds for the making of the direction.
(2)  If there were insufficient grounds for the making of the direction, the Authority is to pay just and reasonable compensation to the applicant.
(3)  The Authority must send written notification of the Authority’s determination as to the payment of compensation under this section to each applicant for the payment of compensation.
(4)  If the Authority has not determined an application for compensation under this section within 28 days after receiving the application, the Authority is taken to have refused to pay any compensation.
(5)  An applicant for the payment of compensation under this section who is dissatisfied with a determination by the Authority as to the refusal to pay compensation or as to the amount of compensation may apply to the District Court for a review of the determination —
(a)within 14 days after the day on which notification of the determination was received; or
(b)in a case to which subsection (4) applies, within 14 days after the 28‑day period mentioned in that subsection ends.
(6)  If the amount of compensation sought exceeds the jurisdictional limit of the District Court, the application under subsection (5) is to be made to the High Court.
(7)  No application for the payment of compensation may be made under this section after the 14‑day period mentioned in subsection (5)(a) or (b) ends.
Appeal to Minister
10J.—(1)  A person mentioned in section 10A to whom a direction under this Part is given and who is aggrieved by the direction may appeal to the Minister.
(2)  An appeal under this section must be in writing and specify the grounds on which it is made, and be made within a prescribed period after the date of receipt of the decision that is appealed against.
(3)  The Minister’s decision on appeal is final.
(4)  The Minister may designate to hear and determine, in his place, any appeals or a specific appeal under this section —
(a)any Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, for his Ministry; or
(b)any Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary, for his Ministry,
and any reference in this section to the Minister includes a reference to the Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary so designated for that appeal.
Non‑compliance with food safety measures
10K.—(1)  A person to whom a direction under this Part is addressed must not, without reasonable excuse —
(a)carry on an activity in contravention of the direction;
(b)neglect or refuse to comply with any such direction; or
(c)fail to comply with a condition specified in such a direction.
(2)  A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(3)  A person must not remove the copy of any direction affixed to any food premises under section 10C(1)(c) while that direction remains in force.
(4)  A person who contravenes subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Interface with other written laws
10L.  To avoid doubt, nothing in this Part derogates from any requirement imposed by or under —
(a)the Animals and Birds Act (Cap. 7);
(b)the Cattle Act (Cap. 34);
(c)the Control of Plants Act (Cap. 57A);
(d)the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act (Cap. 59);
(e)the Environmental Public Health Act (Cap. 95);
(f)the Feeding Stuffs Act (Cap. 105);
(g)the Fisheries Act (Cap. 111);
(h)the Health Products Act (Cap. 122D);
(i)the Medicines Act (Cap. 176);
(j)the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185);
(k)the Poisons Act (Cap. 234); or
(l)the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act (Cap. 349A).”.
Repeal and re‑enactment of sections 15 and 16 and new section 16A
9.  Sections 15 and 16 of the principal Act are repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:
“Selling unsafe or unsuitable food
15.—(1)  A person must not sell food that the person knows or ought reasonably to know is unsafe.
(2)  A person must not sell food that the person knows or ought reasonably to know is unsuitable.
(3)  For the purposes of subsection (2), it is immaterial whether the food concerned is safe.
Offences concerning labelling
16.—(1)  A person must not sell any food that is packaged or labelled in a manner that does not comply with all applicable requirements of this Act relating to identification and labelling of that food.
(2)  In a prosecution for an offence under section 20 for contravening subsection (1), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the defendant intended to commit the offence.
Offences involving non‑compliant advertising
16A.—(1)  This section applies to an advertisement relating to any food or prescribed food contact article that —
(a)does not comply with all applicable requirements of this Act relating to advertisements promoting the food or that prescribed food contact article;
(b)is false as to the age, composition, effects, nature, origin, purity, quality or strength of the food or the safety or suitability of the food or that prescribed food contact article;
(c)is likely to deceive a buyer as to the age, composition, effects, nature, origin, purity, quality or strength of the food or the safety or suitability of the food or that prescribed food contact article;
(d)is prohibited by an applicable requirement of this Act from being marked or attached to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article, or packages containing that kind of food;
(e)makes a statement prohibited by an applicable requirement of this Act to be made in an advertisement relating to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article;
(f)expressly or impliedly qualifies, or is contrary to, details required by an applicable requirement of this Act to be marked or attached to the kind of food, or packages containing that kind of food or that prescribed food contact article;
(g)omits from the name or description of the food or the prescribed food contact article any word or words required by an applicable requirement of this Act to be included in the name or description marked on or attached to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article, or packages containing that kind of food;
(h)fails to make a statement required by an applicable requirement of this Act to be made in an advertisement relating to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article; or
(i)fails to show, in an advertisement shown on a screen, a word or words required by paragraph (g) or (h) in clearly legible lettering for a sufficient length of time for an ordinary viewer to read them.
(2)  A person who is —
(a)the person selling, promoting the sale, or appearing to promote the sale of any food or prescribed food contact article; or
(b)the agent or employee of the person selling, promoting the sale, or appearing to promote the sale of any food or prescribed food contact article,
must not publish an advertisement described in subsection (1) relating to the food or that prescribed food contact article.
(3)  In a prosecution for an offence under section 20 for contravening subsection (2), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the defendant intended to commit the offence.
(4)  In a prosecution for an offence under section 20 for contravening subsection (2) concerning an advertisement of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(b), the advertisement is taken to be false as to the relevant matter in that subsection unless evidence is adduced by the defendant to the contrary.
(5)  To avoid doubt, subsection (4) does not —
(a)have the effect that, merely because such evidence to the contrary is adduced, the advertisement is not false as to the relevant matter in subsection (1)(b); or
(b)have the effect of placing on any person the onus of proving that the advertisement is not false as to the relevant matter in subsection (1)(b).
(6)  Without affecting section 32, in any proceedings for an offence under section 20 in relation to the publication of an advertisement in contravention of subsection (2), it is a defence to the charge for the defendant to prove, on a balance of probabilities —
(a)that —
(i)the defendant was acting in the course of a business of delivering, transmitting or broadcasting communications (in whatever form or by whatever means) or making data available; and
(ii)the nature of the business is such that persons undertaking it have no control over the nature or content of the communications or data; or
(b)that the defendant —
(i)carried on the business of publishing or arranging for the publication of advertisements; and
(ii)published or arranged for the publication of the advertisement in question in the ordinary course of that business.
(7)  However, subsection (6) does not apply if the defendant concerned —
(a)ought reasonably to have known that the publication of the advertisement was an offence under this Part;
(b)had previously been informed in writing by or on behalf of the Authority that publication of such an advertisement would constitute an offence under this Part; or
(c)is the proprietor of a food business or is otherwise engaged in the conduct of a food business for which the advertisements concerned were published.”.
Deletion and substitution of heading to Part IV
10.  Part IV of the principal Act is amended by deleting the Part heading and substituting the following Part heading:
“NON‑RETAIL FOOD BUSINESS”.
Repeal and re‑enactment of section 21
11.  Section 21 of the principal Act is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:
“Non‑retail food business must be licensed
21.  A person must not carry on a non‑retail food business except in accordance with a licence issued to the person by the Director‑General under this Part.”.
Amendment of section 38
12.  Section 38 of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “, composition fines and moneys collected under this Act” and substituting the words “and moneys collected under this Act (except financial penalties and composition sums collected under sections 46 and 50)”.
Amendment of section 40
13.  Section 40 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the word “appliance” in subsections (1) and (2) and substituting in each case the words “food contact article”;
(b)by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsections:
“(4)  Without affecting section 32, in any proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) in relation to the publication of an advertisement in contravention of subsection (2), it is a defence to the charge for the defendant to prove, on a balance of probabilities —
(a)that —
(i)the defendant was acting in the course of a business of delivering, transmitting or broadcasting communications (in whatever form or by whatever means) or making data available; and
(ii)the nature of the business is such that persons undertaking it have no control over the nature or content of the communications or data; or
(b)that the defendant —
(i)carried on the business of publishing or arranging for the publication of advertisements; and
(ii)published or arranged for the publication of the advertisement in question in the ordinary course of that business.
(5)  However, subsection (4) does not apply if the defendant concerned —
(a)ought reasonably to have known that the publication of the advertisement was an offence under subsection (3); or
(b)had previously been informed in writing by or on behalf of the Authority that publication of such an advertisement would constitute an offence under subsection (3).”; and
(c)by deleting the word “appliance” in the section heading and substituting the words “food contact article”.
Amendment of section 44
14.  Section 44(1) of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “post in a pre‑paid letter” in paragraph (c) and substituting the words “registered post”.
Amendment of section 45
15.  Section 45 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the words “section 46(13)” in subsection (1) and substituting the words “sections 10J and 46(13)”; and
(b)by inserting, immediately after subsection (2), the following subsection:
“(3)  The Minister may designate to hear and determine, in his place, any appeals or a specific appeal under this section —
(a)any Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary, for his Ministry; or
(b)any public officer in his Ministry not subordinate to the person whose decision is appealed against,
and any reference in this section to the Minister includes a reference to the Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary or public officer so designated for that appeal.”.
Amendment of section 46
16.  Section 46 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting paragraph (b) of subsection (12) and substituting the following paragraph:
“(b)fails to comply with an applicable requirement of this Act, the non‑compliance with which is not an offence under this Act,”;
(b)by inserting, immediately after subsection (12), the following subsection:
“(12A)  All financial penalties collected under this section are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.”; and
(c)by inserting, immediately after subsection (13), the following subsection:
“(13A)  The Minister may designate to hear and determine, in his place, any appeals or a specific appeal under subsection (13) —
(a)any Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary, for his Ministry; or
(b)any public officer in his Ministry not subordinate to the person whose decision is appealed against,
and any reference in that subsection to the Minister includes a reference to the Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary or public officer so designated for that appeal.”.
Amendment of section 50
17.  Section 50 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsection:
“(4)  All sums collected under this section are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.”.
Repeal and re‑enactment of sections 54 and 55
18.  Sections 54 and 55 of the principal Act are repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:
“Exemption from Act
54.  The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any class of persons, food businesses, premises, food or activities from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act or the food regulations.
Administrative exemption from Act
55.—(1)  The Director‑General may exempt, for a period specified in the exemption, a particular person, food business, premises, food or activity from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act or the food regulations where the Director‑General is personally satisfied that all of the following apply:
(a)the risk to public health of providing the exemption is negligible;
(b)there are other sufficient safeguards under this Act or any other written law, or by other means, to minimise any risk to public health in providing the exemption;
(c)there are requirements in other written law or there are other means that deal with the matter to be exempted besides the applicable requirements of this Act;
(d)the exemption is necessary or desirable to avoid unnecessary restrictions on trade.
(2)  An exemption under this section —
(a)must be in writing and given to the particular person concerned; and
(b)need not be published in the Gazette.”.
Amendment of section 56
19.  Section 56 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the word “appliance” wherever it appears in subsections (1)(b) and (c) and (5) and substituting in each case the words “food contact article”;
(b)by deleting the word “appliances” wherever it appears in subsections (1)(d) and (i) and (2) and substituting in each case the words “food contact articles”;
(c)by deleting paragraph (e) of subsection (1) and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(e)regulating the identification and labelling of food or food contact articles for sale, including specifying the matter that must or must not be contained in any such label and the manner of labelling;
(ea)setting out standards for the maintenance, cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene of premises at which a non‑retail food business is carried out;
(eb)setting out requirements and procedures for document control and recording by food businesses to achieve the safety and suitability of food, including —
(i)the information that must be collected about food or a food contact article;
(ii)the periods for which the information must be kept; and
(iii)how, when and to whom that information must be reported;
(ec)setting out requirements that apply to imported food or food contact articles to ensure that the food or food contact article is safe and suitable, including keeping of records in relation to the source or traceability and handling of the food or food contact article imported;”;
(d)by deleting paragraph (h) of subsection (1) and substituting the following paragraph:
“(h)prohibiting or regulating the promotion and advertising of food and food contact articles, including specifying the matter that must or must not be contained in any advertisement and the manner of promotion and advertising;”;
(e)by inserting, immediately after paragraph (j) of subsection (1), the following paragraph:
“(ja)requiring, regulating or prohibiting the display or distribution, by a prescribed class of retail food businesses, in relation to a prescribed class of food which is sold by retail or displayed for sale by retail at the premises where the food business is carried out, of information of a kind prescribed, including providing for —
(i)nutritional information that must be determined in a prescribed manner; and
(ii)display in the manner (such as in a menu in printed or electronic form or a label), and at locations in those premises, prescribed for nutritional information of that kind;”;
(f)by deleting paragraph (l) of subsection (1) and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(l)prescribing the fees to be paid in connection with the administration of this Act, and the waiver, reduction or refund of fees charged;
(la)providing for such saving, transitional and other consequential, incidental and supplemental provisions as the Minister considers necessary or expedient;”; and
(g)by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsections:
“(3A)  Any food regulation may adopt or incorporate by reference, with or without modification specified in the regulation, any matter contained in any code, standard, rule, requirement, specification or other document, as in force at a particular time or from time to time, which relates to any matter with which the food regulation deals, even if the code, standard, rule, requirement, specification or other document does not yet exist when the food regulation is made.
(3B)  Any material applied, adopted or incorporated in any food regulation by reference under subsection (3A) is to be treated for all purposes as forming part of the food regulation; and, unless otherwise provided in the food regulation, every amendment to any material incorporated by reference under subsection (3A) that is made by the person or organisation originating the material is, subject to subsection (3C), to be treated as being a part of the food regulation.
(3C)  Where any material mentioned in subsection (3A) is applied, adopted or incorporated by reference in any food regulation, the Minister must give notice in the Gazette stating —
(a)that the material is incorporated in the food regulation and the date on which the relevant provision in the food regulation was made;
(b)that the material is available for inspection during working hours, free of charge;
(c)the place where the material can be inspected;
(d)that copies of the material can be purchased;
(e)the place where the material can be purchased; and
(f)if copies of the material are available in other ways, the details of where or how the material can be accessed or obtained.”.
Repeal of First and Second Schedules
20.  The First and Second Schedules to the principal Act are repealed.
Miscellaneous amendments
21.  The principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the word “making” in section 6(1) and substituting the word “manufacturing”; and
(b)by deleting the word “appliance” wherever it appears in the following provisions and substituting in each case the words “food contact article”:
Sections 6(1), (2) and (3), 8, 10(2), 26, 27(a), 28(1), 30(3)(a), 31, 32, 33(1)(a), (b) and (c), (4) and (5), 37(1), 41(2)(a) and 42(1) and section heading.
Consequential and related amendments to Agri‑Food and Veterinary Authority Act
22.  The Agri‑Food and Veterinary Authority Act (Cap. 5, 2012 Ed.) is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately after the words “before any court” in section 11(3), the words “to which the Authority would not otherwise be subject”;
(b)by inserting, immediately after the words “its functions under this Act” in section 12, the words “or any other Act”;
(c)by deleting the words “may, from time to time, in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate any of its powers” in section 14(1) and substituting the words “may delegate, either generally or specially and subject to such conditions or restrictions as it thinks fit, any of its functions or powers under this Act or any other Act which are not prescribed to be non‑delegable”;
(d)by renumbering section 17 as subsection (1) of that section, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following subsection:
“(2)  The members, officers and employees of the Authority are, in relation to their administration, collection and enforcement of payment of —
(a)composition sums under section 43; or
(b)financial penalties or composition sums under the Sale of Food Act (Cap. 283),
deemed to be public officers for the purposes of the Financial Procedure Act (Cap. 109); and section 20 of that Act applies to these persons even though they are not or were not in the employment of the Government.”;
(e)by deleting the words “or composition fines” in section 20; and
(f)by inserting, immediately after subsection (2) of section 43, the following subsection:
“(3)  All sums collected under this section are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.”.
Related amendment to Animals and Birds Act
23.  Section 62(1) of the Animals and Birds Act (Cap. 7, 2002 Ed.) is amended by inserting, immediately after the words “under this Act” in paragraph (b)(iii), the words “or by the Authority under Part IIA of the Sale of Food Act (Cap. 283)”.
Consequential amendment to Environmental Public Health Act
24.  The First Schedule to the Environmental Public Health Act (Cap. 95, 2002 Ed.) is amended by deleting the words “a food processing establishment as described in the Second Schedule to” in paragraphs 1 and 2 and substituting in each case the words “a non‑retail food business within the meaning of”.
Related amendment to Wholesome Meat and Fish Act
25.  The Wholesome Meat and Fish Act (Cap. 349A, 2000 Ed.) is amended by inserting, immediately after the words “under this Act or the rules” in the following provisions, the words “or by the Authority under Part IIA of the Sale of Food Act (Cap. 283)”:
Sections 8(1)(b)(iii) and 14(1)(b)(iii).
Saving and transitional provisions
26.—(1)  Every licence that —
(a)is issued, before the date of commencement of section 11, under Part IV of the principal Act as then in force; and
(b)is in force immediately before that date,
is, so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of the principal Act as amended by this Act, to continue as if, and is to be treated as, a licence to carry on a non‑retail food business issued under the principal Act as so amended.
(2)  Where —
(a)an application for a licence under Part IV of the principal Act is made before the date of commencement of section 11; and
(b)the application was not granted or approved before that date,
the application is, where applicable, deemed to be an application under Part IV of the principal Act as amended by section 11.
(3)  For a period of 2 years after the date of commencement of any provision of this Act, the Minister may, by regulations, prescribe such additional provisions of a saving or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of that provision as the Minister may consider necessary or expedient.
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