SINGAPORE — Food establishments involved in “significant food poisoning incidents” will face harsher penalties such as heftier fines and prosecution in court, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a statement on Friday (Dec 21).

Besides increasing the composition fines, the two agencies said that more offenders may face legal action, with penalties such as fines of up to S$20,000, three months' jail, or both.

"In appropriate cases, NEA and AVA will also press for deterrent sentences to be imposed by the Court," the joint statement said.

The slew of enhanced measures to tighten the food safety regime will be implemented immediately, and they come in the wake of the recent food poisoning incidents that left more than 600 people ill, with one fatality.

The role and accountability of the food hygiene officer — usually a senior food establishment staff member — will also be tightened, NEA and AVA said.

In the event of a food poisoning outbreak, all food hygiene officers from the outlet will be required to go for retraining and pass an audit course.

"A suspended food establishment must have a properly trained and qualified food hygiene officer before any lifting of the suspension will be considered," the two agencies added.

Food operators — including restaurants, caterers, canteens and food courts — are required to appoint a senior staff member such as a sous chef, restaurant manager, or supervisor to be trained as a food hygiene officer.

On Dec 3, the NEA and AVA announced stepped-up inspections at selected food establishments. The process is expected to complete by the end of the year.

According to the agencies, to date, most of the food establishments that provide catering services and other premises with substantial catering operations during this festive period have been inspected.

Following investigations into the recent spate of food poisoning incidents, the Ministry of Health, together with NEA and AVA, said on Dec 14 that there was no link between the incidents at popular eatery Spize Restaurant at River Valley — which resulted in one death — and those at Mandarin Orchard hotel, FoodTalks Caterer and Manufacturer, and Tung Lok Millennium.

At Mandarin Orchard, where 315 people fell ill earlier this month after attending five separate events at its Grand Ballroom, food hygiene officers had already been appointed to attend the accredited three-day course to “reinforce high standards of food and personal hygiene in our food handling areas”, a hotel spokesperson told TODAY.

All food handlers involved in the affected events have been scheduled to attend a basic food hygiene certification course as well, he added.

“The suspension (of the banquet kitchen serving the Grand Ballroom) is still in place, but we continue to work with the relevant authorities to thoroughly review all our food and beverage premises in the hotel and ensure that the premises are cleaned and sanitised to standard,” he said.

Earlier this month, the NEA had also conducted engagement sessions with key representatives from the Association of Catering Professionals Singapore and the Restaurant Association of Singapore to further reinforce the importance of food hygiene and safety. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY WONG PEI TING