On 16 October 2018, Singapore Customs posted Circular No. 10/2018 which announces updated regulations governing the prohibition of imports, exports, transshipments and goods in transit from or to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea).
Under Regulation 6(1)(b) of the Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations, the importation into, exportation from, or transhipment or transit through Singapore of any goods which will contravene the decisions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in resolutions made under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, are prohibited.
With the adoption of UNSC Resolution 2397 (2017), Singapore has updated the Seventh Schedule, read with Regulation 6(2)(d) of the Regulation of Imports and Export Regulations to allow traders to more easily refer to the various trade prohibitions imposed by the decisions made by the UNSC. The updated prohibitions have been published in the Regulation of Imports and Exports (Amendment) Regulations 2018, which take effect on 17 Oct 2018.
Traders are reminded that the import, export, transhipment, and transit of any goods that are for the purposes of trade with any person in the DPRK continue to be prohibited under the Seventh Schedule, read with Regulation 6(2)(d) of the Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations.
For goods which are not for the purposes of trade, which are imported from, exported or re-exported to the DPRK, traders would need to apply for a TradeNet® permit at least 3 working days before the intended date of shipment. Supporting documents should include documents to show that the shipment is non-commercial in nature (e.g. a letter of authorisation issued by a United Nations (UN) body). Please be reminded to comply with all the conditions stipulated in the approved permits.
Penalties
Under the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act (RIEA), any person who contravenes any of these prohibitions shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to –
a) a fine of not exceeding S$100,000 or 3 times the value of the goods in respect of which the offence was committed, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both, on the first conviction; and
b) a fine of not exceeding S$200,000 or 4 times the value of the goods in respect of which the offence was committed, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both, on the second or subsequent conviction
