Myanmar recently published new labeling requirements for imported prepackaged food, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service said in a March 17 report. The change requires food labels to include certain minimum information, including a list of ingredients, the country of origin, date marking and instructions for use. The requirements will take effect Jan. 20, 2023.
Singapore arrested a Malaysian national and seized over 1,000 cartons of cigarettes for which duties had not been paid, Singapore Customs announced March 15. The man was arrested during a March 12 operation during which Singapore Customs officers saw a Malaysia-registered vehicle and a Singapore-registered truck parked on the side of the road. The officers checked the vehicles and found 1,020 cartons of cigarettes, arresting the Malaysian man. The total duty and Goods and Services tax allegedly evaded totaled $87,100 and $6,930, respectively (in Singapore dollars), and court proceedings are ongoing, Singapore Customs said.
The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo extended system maintenance March 27 4 a.m. to noon local time, it said March 15. Singapore Customs advises users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.
China required that traders seeking to import corpses and skeletons (bones) must declare the contents of such a shipment to China Customs at the port of entry, the General Administration of Customs said in a March 14 announcement, according to an unofficial translation. The move is meant to standardize China's quarantine regulations of corpses and bones.
Singapore Customs extended its e-services to cover five more trade-related applications, the customs administration announced March 15. Starting April 1, traders can use FormSG to apply for Cargo Agent's Import Authorisation, Vessel Registration, Kimberley Process License, Import Certificate and Delivery Verification, and Landing Certificate.
Vietnamese fish exporters have suspended fishery shipments to Russia due to complications arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the state-run CustomsNews reported March 11. Prior to the invasion, Vietnamese fish exporters saw a large hike in shipments of pangasius (shark catfish) to Russia in 2021. However, these export numbers took a massive tumble at the start of the year with the Ukraine invasion now being cited as a reason for the complete suspension of these shipments. CustomsNews said that the effects of the now greatly devalued Russian ruble have suspended payments for fish exports, leading to exporters halting the signing of all pangasius export orders to Russia. Tuna shipments also have faced serious setbacks, CustomsNews said. This appears to be a decision made by individual exporters in the industry and not an official order to avoid trading with Russia, though shippers have been warned to monitor ship container availability and possible blocking at certain ports.
Japan added three Belarusian banks to its list of sanctioned parties in response to Belarus' role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced March 11, according to an unofficial translation. Belagroprombank, Bank Dabrabyt and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus are now subjected to an asset freeze by Japan. The measures will come into effect on April 10.
Russia’s aviation authority said China has declined to provide Russian airlines with aircraft parts, some of which are subject to Western sanctions, Reuters reported March 10. The announcement came after Boeing and Airbus ceased providing Russia with aircraft components, which are subject to U.S. and EU export controls. A Russian official told the country’s news agencies that it will look to source parts from other countries, including Turkey and India, after a “failed attempt to obtain them from China,” according to the report. The U.S. Department of Commerce has threatened to penalize Chinese companies that help Russia evade export restrictions, including placing them on the Entity List (see 2203080053).
Singapore State Court sentenced Lin Junjiang, the sole owner of J21 Imports, to prison and to pay a $5.6 million fine (in Singapore dollars) for evading duties and Goods and Services Tax, Singapore Customs said March 10. Lin undervalued 464 motor vehicle imports brought into Singapore in 2016. After the case was brought to court, Lin pleaded guilty to one charge under the Customs Act and one charge under the Road Traffic Act, Singapore Customs said. He didn't pay the fine and will serve 40 months in prison in the fine's stead, the notice said. Lin will also serve another four weeks in prison for underpaying the Additional Registration Fee, the notice said.
Hong Kong continues to conduct random COVID-19 testing on imports of chilled and frozen foods, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a March 9 report, and recently detected the virus on several imports from Brazil and Poland. The shipments included frozen beef from Brazil and frozen pork skin from Poland, USDA said. Hong Kong hasn’t allowed the imports to enter its market and ordered the importers to “dispose of the entire batch of affected products.” The government also ordered affected warehouses to “conduct thorough cleaning and disinfection,” USDA said.