Section 17

Where the Minister is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient for the development, promotion and improvement of the export trade of Singapore to establish a scheme for the quality control of particular commodities exported from Singapore, he may, after consultation with the Institute, specify by notification in the Gazette, the commodities which shall be subject to quality control prior to export and the date from which such commodities, to be known as notified commodities, shall be so subject.

Such scheme shall be administered and operated by the Institute.

Where an exporter intends to export from Singapore a notified commodity, he shall first inform the Institute of the particulars thereof in respect of each consignment in such form and within such time as the Institute may require.

The Institute shall, for the purpose of the quality control of such notified commodity, apply the standard stipulated in the export contract in respect thereof, or in the absence of such standard apply the Singapore Standard or any other standard, or modification thereof, acceptable to the Institute, and evaluate the quality of such notified commodity in such manner as the Institute may think fit.

If such notified commodity conforms to the appropriate standard as provided in subsection (4), the Institute shall issue to the exporter a certificate to that effect in respect of each consignment, and upon the receipt of such certificate, and not otherwise, the exporter may export the consignment.

The Institute or, with the written authority of the Institute, the exporter may affix or apply an inspection sign, of such design and in such manner as it may think fit, to the notified commodity in respect of which the Institute has issued a certificate, and save as provided in this subsection no person may affix or apply such inspection sign.

The Institute may require every exporter to furnish such information, return or report, and such samples of each consignment of the notified commodity as the Institute may consider necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section.

A person who exports a notified commodity without obtaining a certificate from the Institute as provided in subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

A person who attempts to commit an offence punishable under subsection (8) or abets the commission of that offence shall be punished with the punishment provided for the offence.

The Minister may, from time to time, add to, delete or amend a notification made under subsection (1).