Fisheries Act
(Chapter 111, Section 7)
Fisheries (Fish Processing Establishments) Rules
R 5
REVISED EDITION 1996
(25th March 1992)
[16th July 1971]
Citation
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Fisheries (Fish Processing Establishments) Rules.
Definitions
2.  In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —
“fish processing establishment” means any factory, plant, premises or place where fish is stored, processed, graded or packed for commercial purposes;
“worker” means a person who works in a fish processing establishment and includes the owner thereof.
Licence required
3.  No person shall operate a fish processing establishment except with a licence issued under these Rules.
Application and particulars
4.  An applicant for a fish processing establishment licence shall apply in writing to the Director in such form as the Director may prescribe and shall furnish the following particulars:
(a)name, identity card number and address of applicant;
(b)business name and address, if any;
(c)address and total area of the premises to be used as a fish processing establishment and a description of the intended business;
(d)drawings (in duplicate) with specifications that completely and clearly illustrate and describe the applicant’s premises, showing the locations of the buildings, equipment, roadways, wash basins, water wells and water storage tanks, drainage system and toilet soil lines. The drainage system of the factory shall be separated from the toilet soil line to a point outside the building; and
(e)such other information as the Director may require.
Inspection of premises
5.  The Director may inspect the premises intended to be used as a fish processing establishment before the issue of a licence.
Conditions
6.  The applicant shall comply with the following conditions in respect of the premises intended to be used as a fish processing establishment:
(a)Location: Fish processing establishments shall be located (so far as practicable) in areas reasonably free from objectionable odours, smoke, flying ash and dust and adequate dustproof access-ways shall be provided connecting the establishment to public streets, highways or railways;
(b)Water supply: The water supply shall be ample and potable and water shall be distributed throughout the premises (both hot and cold water) under adequate pressure. If the water is not supplied from the public water system but taken from private wells, the wells shall be effectively protected from pollution. If chlorinators are required to assure a continuous potable supply, they shall be of the automatic type;
(c)Drains: Drains shall be of an adequate size and sufficiently grated to prevent stagnation, and where they are connected directly to a sewer, they shall be equipped with deep-seal traps;
(d)Floors: Floors shall be constructed of durable water resistant material, suitably graded so as to allow easy and efficient cleaning and draining, leaving no puddles of stagnant water. As a safety precaution, excessively smooth floors shall be avoided;
(e)Walls: The walls within shall be well furnished with smooth, water-proof, light coloured material which is capable of being cleansed easily and cleaned daily. A minimum height of 1.8 metres from the floor of the wall shall be laid with glazed porcelain tiles;
(f)Ceilings: Ceilings shall be of good height and shall be at least 3 metres in workrooms. So far as structural conditions permit, ceilings shall be smooth and flat;
(g)Welfare rooms: Adequate welfare rooms shall be provided in the premises for rest and recreation of workers;
(h)Ventilation: Adequate means for ventilation shall be provided in all workrooms and welfare rooms. Fresh air intakes for workrooms and welfare rooms should be so located that the air is not contaminated with odours, dust, smoke, etc. Ventilation may be provided by means of ventilating-type windows, fans or air conditioners, but shall be provided with effective equipment to eliminate insects, dust, etc.;
(i)Lighting: Adequate lighting, whether natural or artificial or both, shall be provided on the premises;
(j)Refuse disposal: The refuse shall be collected into covered receptacles and daily disposed of and the receptacles shall be washed and disinfected before reuse;
(k)Utensils: The utensils including tables, benches, containers, racks, trays, etc., used on the premises shall be of non-corrodible material and be kept in good repair, clean and sanitary condition. They shall be provided in adequate numbers so as to prevent the fish and fishery products from contracting the floor and walls;
(l)Toilet: Toilet, washing facilities and dressing accommodation of adequate size shall be provided for the convenience of the workers. The entrance to these places shall not open directly into the working areas;
(m)Uniforms: Filleters, skinners, scalers and handlers of fish shall wear clean white outer garments and a washable head covering which shall cover the hair completely;
(n)First-aid: First-aid facilities shall be provided for workers and any cut or abrasion on an exposed part of the body shall at all times be covered by a waterproof dressing;
(o)Pests: Effective means shall be provided to exclude vermin, for example, rats, mice, cockroaches and flies from the premises;
(p)Animals, birds, reptiles: No pets or animals shall be allowed in the premises. The workrooms shall not be permitted to be used as storerooms or sleeping rooms. Any room that connects directly with a sleeping room shall not be used to handle exposed fish and fishery products;
(q)Smoking: The use of tobacco or any other smoking mixtures or substance and spitting are prohibited in any room where exposed fish and fishery products are being handled;
(r)In the same fish processing establishment, the area used for processing of fish for human consumption shall be separated physically from the area used for processing of fish, offal or other by-products which are not meant for human consumption.
Issue of licence
7.—(1)  The Director may, on being satisfied that the applicant for a fish processing establishment licence has complied with the conditions specified in rule 6, and upon payment by the applicant of the fee specified in the Schedule, issue a licence to the applicant, with or without additional conditions.
(2)  The Director may, in his discretion, refuse to issue a licence without assigning any reason.
(3)  The Director may at any time vary or revoke any existing condition of a licence or impose additional conditions thereto.
(4)  Where a licence is subject to conditions, the licensee shall comply with those conditions.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Validity of licence
8.  A licence —
(a)may, at the discretion of the Director, be issued for a period of one year or 3 years.
(b)shall be valid only for the period, place and purposes specified therein; and
(c)shall not be transferable except with the prior written permission of the Director.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Licence to be displayed
9.  A licence issued under these Rules shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the fish processing establishment together with a copy of the conditions subject to which the licence has been issued, if any.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Revocation of licence
10.—(1)  The Director may, by order, revoke a licence —
(a)if he is satisfied that the licensee —
(i)has ceased to carry on the business for which he has been licensed or, if the licensee, being a company, goes into liquidation or is wound up or otherwise dissolved;
(ii)has obtained his licence contrary to the provisions of the Act;
(iii)is no longer a fit and proper person to continue to hold a licence;
(iv)is contravening or has contravened any of the provisions of the Act or these Rules; or
(v)has been convicted of an offence under the Act or these Rules or, if the licensee is a company, any of its officers holding a managerial or executive position has been convicted of an offence under the Act or these Rules;
(b)if he finds any condition in the fish processing establishment in respect of which the licence has been issued is or may become dangerous to health or may hinder in any manner the suppression of disease; or
(c)if he considers it in the public interest to do so.
(2)  Where the Director has revoked a licence under paragraph (1), he shall forthwith inform the licensee by notice in writing of the revocation.
(3)  The licensee may, within 7 days of receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (2), or such extended period of time as the Minister may allow, appeal in writing against the revocation to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(4)  Where the Director has revoked a licence, the revocation shall take effect notwithstanding that an appeal to the Minister has been made and a decision is pending.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
No alteration to building
11.  No alteration or change shall be made to the buildings or premises of a fish processing establishment unless plans of the alteration or change are first submitted to the Director and his prior written approval obtained.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Information to be given
12.—(1)  A licensee of a fish processing establishment shall, on demand being made therefor by an officer appointed by the Director, provide such officer with information on the techniques or procedures used for the processing of fish in the fish processing establishment.
(2)  The licensee shall, on demand being made therefor by an officer appointed by the Director, supply such officer with samples of any preservatives, dye-stuff and any other ingredient used in the processing of fish in the fish processing establishment, and the markings made on the fish or embossed on the tin cans in which the fish is contained, together with the meanings of such markings.
(3)  The Director may give such directions as he thinks fit on the use of such preservatives, dye-stuff or other ingredient or markings.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Samples
13.—(1)  An officer appointed by the Director may at any time enter upon or into a fish processing establishment and take or cause to be taken from the fish processing establishment samples of fish processed or to be processed therein, or any preservative, dye-stuff or any other ingredient used in the manufacture thereof for laboratory analysis or examination.
(2)  Where such samples are taken pursuant to paragraph (1), 3 samples of the fish, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient of about the same quantity shall be collected, sealed, labelled and dated by the officer appointed by the Director who shall also sign his name on each sample; one sample shall be retained by the licensee of the fish establishment, and 2 samples shall be taken by the officer appointed by the Director.
(3)  Where an officer appointed by the Director requires more samples of the fish, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient for laboratory analysis or examination, the licensee shall provide the officer with more samples, unless the officer is satisfied that more samples cannot be obtained.
(4)  The Director may inform the licensee in writing of the results or findings of the analysis or examination.
(5)  The results or findings of the analysis or examination shall not be used for advertising any fish processing establishment or fish processed therein.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Results of analysis of samples
14.—(1)  Where the Director is of the opinion as a result of any analysis or examination of samples of any fish, preservative, dye-stuff or any other ingredient used in the manufacture thereof under rule 13 that the fish, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient is likely to cause illness or disease or is otherwise unfit for human consumption, he may direct the licensee of the fish processing establishment from which the samples were taken to destroy the fish, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient or to take such measures or perform and do such act and things as are, in his opinion, necessary to render the fish, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient fit for human consumption.
(2)  No licensee of a fish processing establishment shall process fish or use preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient that is likely to cause illness or disease or is otherwise unfit for human consumption.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
No employment of sick persons
15.—(1)  No licensee shall employ or permit a person suffering from tuberculosis, vesicular disease, typhoid fever, persistent dermal disease, sores or any other disease likely to contaminate any fish processed in a fish processing establishment or infect any worker employed therein to work in such fish processing establishment.
(2)  Every licensee shall cause every worker employed in a fish processing establishment to be examined by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act [Cap. 174. Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96] at lease once a year.
[]
Inspection by an officer appointed by Director
16.  An officer appointed by the Director may at any time enter upon or into any fish processing establishment for the purpose of ascertaining whether any offence under the Act or these Rules has been or is being committed.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Certificate of fitness for human consumption
17.  The Director may, on an application being made therefor, issue a certificate of fitness for human consumption of any canned fish or manufactured fish product or any other certificate in respect of the processing of fish in a fish processing establishment in such form as the Director may determine, after the Director or a person authorised by him in that behalf has examined or analysed and inspected the processing of such fish or product and upon payment of the fees set out in the Schedule.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Certificate of analysis
18.  The Director may, on an application being made therefor, issue a certificate of analysis of any fish, in such form as the Director may determine after the Director or a person authorised by him in that behalf has examined, analysed or carried out tests on the fish and upon payment of the fees set out in the Schedule.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Restricted use of factory
19.  No person shall use a fish processing establishment licensed under these Rules for any other purpose other than that specified in the licence without the written consent of the Director.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Penalties
20.  Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of these Rules 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 one year or to both.
[Subst. by S 11 /96 wef 12.1.96.]