Event organiser charged with running Ramadan bazaar at Downtown East without permit
Event Business Management, the operator of a temporary Ramadan fair, did not have its application approved to run the bazaar from April 9 to 24, 2022, the Singapore Food Agency said.
SINGAPORE — An event organiser was charged on Wednesday (Oct 26) with failing to have a valid permit to operate a temporary Ramadan fair at Downtown East earlier this year.
Event Business Management faces a single charge under Section 35 of the Environmental Public Health Act.
Court documents showed that the company is liable for harsher punishment if found guilty because it was convicted of the same offence in January 2014. It was fined S$500 at the time.
For the present case, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) had earlier said that Event Business Management "illegally operated" a fair called Fiesta Ramadan 2022 at E!Hub@Downtown East in Pasir Ris starting April 9.
During an inspection two days later, eight food stalls were found to be in business.
However, Event Business Management did not have its application approved to run the fair from April 9 to 24 because it had not met the requirements, SFA said.
These included providing a cleaning schedule and list of food vendors, as well as information on whether the food handlers had undergone the required food hygiene training to be certified to handle food items.
The company also ignored a warning given on April 11 to stop the fair, SFA added. The agency then suspended the fair's operations from April 12 onwards.
On Wednesday, a representative of the company stated its intention to plead guilty. The case will return to court on Nov 23.
If Event Business Management is convicted, it could be fined up to S$20,000 as a repeat offender. Offenders can also be jailed up to three months.
Temporary fair operators who do not comply with regulations can be fined up to S$10,000 for their first offence.
SFA said before that all operators of temporary fairs must get a permit for the duration of the fair, which allows the agency to ensure food safety.
"Applications should be submitted at least two weeks before the fair commencement date."
Food and beverage stalls at temporary fairs are also required to be licensed by SFA, with food handlers who have passed the mandatory Food Safety Course Level 1.
