Illegal Ramadan fair with 8 food stalls at Downtown East suspended

SINGAPORE — A Ramadan-themed fair with eight food stalls at Downtown East has been suspended for operating illegally, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Tuesday (12 April).

The “Fiesta Ramadan 2022” fair, operated by Event Business Management at 1 Pasir Ris Close E!Hub@Downtown East, was discovered by SFA officers on Monday to be running without a valid temporary fair permit since 9 April.

SFA had not approved the application by Event Business Management for a permit to operate the temporary fair from 9 to 24 April, as it had not met the requirements.

These include providing information on the cleaning schedule and list of food vendors, as well as ensuring food handlers have undergone food hygiene training and are certified to handle food items.

Food and beverage stalls at temporary fairs are required to be licensed by SFA, with food handled by individuals who have passed the mandatory Food Safety Course Level 1.

The company also ignored a warning given on Monday to stop the fair, SFA said.

"As Event Business Management failed to stop the fair on 11 April despite SFA’s warning, SFA has suspended its operations with effect from 12 April and will take enforcement action against the operator for the offence of operating a temporary fair without permit," it added.

Under the Environmental Public Health Act, all operators of temporary fairs must get a permit from SFA for the duration of the fair. Applications should be submitted at least two weeks before the start date of a fair, SFA said.

Offenders can be fined up to $10,000 as well as fined up to $20,000 or jailed up to three months or both In the case of a subsequent conviction.