Food industry experts say Singaporean companies in the sector should adopt blockchain technology to help track products in the supply chain.
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| Blockchain technology will help Singapore trace the origin of food. (Source: Innovative Hub) |
The Singapore Parliament also recently passed legislation to enhance food safety.
Traceability takes centre stage in Singapore’s Food Safety and Security Bill, passed by Parliament on January 8. The bill sets out detailed requirements for food traceability and recall records, ensuring that unsafe products can be quickly identified and removed from the market.
The food industry must keep detailed information about importers, food descriptions such as brand and batch numbers, and recipient contact information for feed manufacturers.
The bill also requires businesses to stockpile specific quantities of key foods to manage potential shortages. For example, rice importers must stockpile rice for two months. Food manufacturers seeking approval before introducing new and specified foods to the market must document food handling procedures and adhere to strict hygiene standards, with violators facing heavy fines.
In Singapore, one company using a blockchain-based food traceability platform is The Grow Hub. Kala Anandarajah, head of competition, antitrust and trade at law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore, said food operators and larger supply chain participants should educate and support their smaller counterparts.
Food businesses should examine how they will be affected by tighter regulations and train their staff to ensure compliance, analysts say.
First-time corporate offenders face fines of up to S$50,000 (US$36,837), while individual offenders face fines of up to S$25,000 or a one-year jail term, or both, said attorney Jenny Li of the Shanghai office of law firm Keller and Heckman.
The bill also prohibits violators who have had their licenses revoked for repeated food safety violations from reapplying for the same type of license for up to three years.
The Bill consolidates and updates food-related legislation into a comprehensive legal framework, simplifying the process for market participants, including importers. However, it is worth noting that operators may still need to refer to other regulations, such as the Singapore Food Regulations, for specific requirements.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/quoc-hoi-singapore-ra-du-luat-dung-cong-nghe-blockchain-truy-xuat-nguon-goc-thuc-pham-302880.html
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