ICA & AVA REMINDS S’POREANS OF BAN ON MALAYSIAN BAK KWA OR FACE CONFISCATION

Planning to buy bak kwa from Malaysia for Chinese New Year? Think twice – you may be breaking the law. The barbecued sweet meat is on the list of items travellers are barred from bringing into Singapore. Pork from Malaysia, and all other South-east Asian countries, is not allowed even for personal consumption.

With Chinese New Year approaching, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) issued a joint advisory reminding travellers to check the guidelines on the importation of items.

Bak kwa is considered a pork product and can be imported only from approved regions including Australia, Japan, United States and a number of European countries. Pork from Malaysia, and all other South-east Asian countries, is not allowed even for personal consumption.