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新加坡的法律

Free Trade Zones Act 1966

文本截至 2026-09-28

以研究形式发布的公开法律与官方指引,不构成法律、税务或金融建议。

研究内容本身以英文撰写。标题和标签已翻译,调查结果和引文未翻译。

关于这部法律

类型
法令
编号
2020 Revised Edition; informal consolidation "version in force from 25/11/2024"
颁布机构
Parliament of Singapore (administered by the Director-General of Customs)
国家
新加坡

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文本

所收录的法律原文,按条款排列。每个条款都有自己的链接。

  1. 1. Short title

  2. 2. Interpretation

  3. 3. Declaration of free trade zones

  4. 4. Power of Director-General to administer Act, etc. ## PART 2 OPERATIONS PERMITTED WITHIN FREE TRADE ZONE

  5. 5. Dealing with or disposal of goods in free trade zone

  6. 6. Manipulation or manufacture in free trade zone

  7. 7. Calculation of duty

  8. 8. Retail trade

  9. 9. Use and consumption of dutiable goods and taxable goods

  10. 10. Authorisation to enter or reside in free trade zone

  11. 10A. Offences and penalties under this Part ## PART 3 [REPEALED] 11. [Repealed] 12. [Repealed] 13. [Repealed] 14. [Repealed] ## PART 3A REGULATION OF FREE TRADE ZONE OPERATORS ### Division 1 — Licensing of free trade zone operators

  12. 14A. Unauthorised operation of free trade zone

  13. 14B. Application for or to renew free trade zone operator licences <!-- p. 2 furniture: 2020 Ed. | Free Trade Zones Act 1966 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 | 1 --> #### Section

  14. 14C. Grant, etc., of free trade zone operator licences

  15. 14D. Validity of free trade zone operator licence

  16. 14E. Conditions of free trade zone operator licence ### Division 2 — Duties and powers of licensed #### free trade zone operators

  17. 14F. Director-General’s directions to licensed free trade zone operators

  18. 14G. Free trade zone operators may allow erection of private buildings, etc.

  19. 14H. Exclusion or removal of certain goods or discontinuance of operations ### Division 3 — Preparing and giving of reports and #### information, etc., by free trade zone operators

  20. 14I. Free trade zone operators to submit and retain reports

  21. 14J. Free trade zone operators to give information on goods in contravention of written law ## PART 3B REGULATION OF FREE TRADE ZONE CARGO HANDLERS, SHIPPING AGENTS AND AIR CARGO AGENTS

  22. 14K. Director-General’s directions to free trade zone cargo handlers

  23. 14L. Free trade zone cargo handlers to submit and retain reports

  24. 14M. Free trade zone cargo handlers to give information on goods in contravention of written law

  25. 14N. Shipping agents and air cargo agents to give information on movement of goods

  26. 14O. Free trade zone cargo handlers to give information on movement of goods ## PART 3C ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT ### Division 1 — Regulatory action in respect of #### free trade zone operator licences

  27. 14P. Suspension or revocation, etc., of free trade zone operator licences <!-- p. 3 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> ### Division 2 — Powers of enforcement, etc. #### Section

  28. 14Q. Interpretation of this Division

  29. 14R. Entering free trade zone to monitor compliance

  30. 14S. Power to search free trade zone, etc.

  31. 14T. Detention of goods for inspection

  32. 14U. Power to require goods to be brought to examination station for inspection

  33. 14V. Powers of arrest

  34. 14W. Power to require persons to provide information and documents

  35. 14X. General power to require information or documents

  36. 14Y. Offences for false statements, forging of documentation, etc.

  37. 14Z. Penalty for assaulting or obstructing officers of customs, rescuing goods, resisting arrest and escaping from custody ## PART 4 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 15. [Repealed] 16. [Repealed]

  38. 16A. Preservation of secrecy

  39. 17. Action of officers no offence

  40. 17A. Protection from personal liability

  41. 18. Appeal from decision of licensed free trade zone operator or Director-General

  42. 18A. Service of documents ## PART 5 PROVISIONS AS TO TRIALS AND PROCEEDINGS 19. [Repealed]

  43. 20. Burden of proof ## PART 6 OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 21. [Repealed]

  44. 22. Attempts and abetments

  45. 23. Offences by bodies of persons and by servants and agents

  46. 23A. Composition of offences <!-- p. 4 furniture: 3 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> ## PART 7 GENERAL #### Section

  47. 23B. General exemption

  48. 24. Minister to make regulations An Act to provide for the establishment of free trade zones in Singapore and the regulation of activities in those free trade zones, and for matters incidental thereto. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [1 September 1969] ## PART 1 PRELIMINARY #### Short title

  49. 1. This Act is the Free Trade Zones Act 1966. #### Interpretation

  50. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “air cargo agent” means a person who carries on a business that includes handling goods, to be passed to or received from an operator of an aircraft or its representative, for carriage in the aircraft; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “aircraft” means an aircraft of any description which may be used for the conveyance of persons or goods by air; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “conveyance” includes any vessel, train, vehicle or aircraft in which persons or goods can be carried; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 5 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 4 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> “customs duty” means any customs duty or excise duty imposed under the Customs Act 1960; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “customs territory” means Singapore and the territorial waters of Singapore but excluding any free trade zone; “Director-General” means the Director‑General of Customs appointed under section 4(1) of the Customs Act 1960; “dutiable goods” means any goods subject to the payment of customs duty on entry into customs territory or manufactured in Singapore including any free trade zone and on which customs duty has not been paid and includes goods manufactured in a free trade zone from materials of a class dutiable on entry into customs territory for consumption within the customs territory; “free trade zone” means any area declared to be a free trade zone under section 3(1); “free trade zone cargo handler” or “FTZ cargo handler”, in relation to a free trade zone — (a) means a person providing any service or facility for the storing, processing or handling of goods at the free trade zone, for any goods being brought into or out of Singapore; and (b) includes an FTZ operator of the free trade zone that provides any such service or facility; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “free trade zone operator” or “FTZ operator”, in relation to a free trade zone, means the person who administers, maintains and operates the free trade zone; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “free trade zone operator licence” or “FTZ operator licence” means a free trade zone operator licence granted under section 14C to administer, maintain and operate a free trade zone specified in the licence; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 6 furniture: 5 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> “goods” includes animals, birds, fish, plants and all kinds of movable property; “licensed FTZ operator” means an FTZ operator holding a valid free trade zone operator licence; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “manufacture”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means the process of converting materials into a new product or article, whether or not by power-operated machinery, whereby a change in tariff classification has been effected; except that the Director-General may, in his discretion, determine that the result of any manufacture is not a new product or article and a change in tariff classification has not been effected; “officer of customs”, “proper officer of customs” and “senior officer of customs” have the same meanings as in the Customs Act 1960; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “shipping agent” means a person who carries on a business that includes handling goods, to be passed to or received from an operator of a vessel or its representative, for carriage in the vessel; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “tax” means goods and services tax under section 8(4) of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “taxable goods” means any goods (including any goods manufactured in a free trade zone) subject to the payment of tax on entry into customs territory pursuant to section 8(4) of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993, and on which such tax has not been paid; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] “vessel” includes any ship or boat or other description of vessel used in navigation by sea. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 7 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 6 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> #### Declaration of free trade zones

  51. 3.—(1) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, declare any area in Singapore to be a free trade zone and every such notification shall define the limits of that free trade zone. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (2) [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] Power of Director-General to administer Act, etc.

  52. 4.—(1) The Director-General is responsible for the administration of this Act, subject to the general or special directions of the Minister. (2) Subject to the general direction and supervision of the Director- General, the Deputy Directors-General of Customs and Assistant Directors-General of Customs appointed under section 4(2) of the Customs Act 1960 have and may exercise all the powers conferred on the Director-General by this Act. (3) The Director-General may confer on any senior officer of customs appointed under section 4(4) of the Customs Act 1960 all or any of the powers conferred on the Director-General by this Act (except under this subsection), subject to any conditions or restrictions that the Director-General thinks fit. (4) The Director-General may confer on any officer of customs all or any of the powers of a senior officer of customs under this Act. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 2 OPERATIONS PERMITTED WITHIN FREE TRADE ZONE #### Dealing with or disposal of goods in free trade zone

  53. 5.—(1) Goods of any description, except such as are specifically and absolutely prohibited by any written law, may be brought into a free trade zone. (2) Goods in a free trade zone may — (a) be removed from the free trade zone, destroyed, or sent into customs territory or into another free trade zone in the original package or otherwise; and <!-- p. 8 furniture: 7 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) unless otherwise directed by the licensed FTZ operator of the free trade zone, be stored, sold, exhibited, broken up, repacked, assembled, distributed, sorted, graded, cleaned, mixed, or otherwise manipulated, or be manufactured in accordance with the provisions of this Act, except that when any goods of a class dutiable on entry into customs territory whether in their original condition or after manufacture or as part or ingredient of any goods manufactured in a free trade zone are sent from a free trade zone into the customs territory, the goods shall be subject to the provisions of the Customs Act 1960. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (3) Goods, except such as are prescribed under subsection (4), which have been brought into a free trade zone from customs territory shall be deemed to be exported for the purpose of drawback under the Customs Act 1960. (4) Subsection (2)(b) shall not apply to such goods as may be prescribed from time to time by the Minister by notification in the Gazette, save that such prescribed goods may be stored in a free trade zone for the purpose of transhipment or survey and repacking before removal into customs territory, and that such survey and repacking shall not be carried out except with the prior permission of a senior officer of customs and shall be subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose. #### Manipulation or manufacture in free trade zone

  54. 6.—(1) Any person who intends to do any of the following in a free trade zone must give the Director-General written notice of the intention and obtain the Director-General’s prior written permission to do so: (a) assemble, mix or otherwise manipulate any goods for entry into customs territory, where any goods or materials used in the assembly, mixing or manipulation are dutiable goods; (b) manufacture any goods. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 9 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 8 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (2) Permission under subsection (1) shall be granted or withheld as the Director‑General in his discretion shall think fit. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (3) Subject to subsection (4), any manipulation or manufacture permitted under this section shall be subject to the regulations made under this Act and to such conditions as the Director‑General may think fit to impose. (4) The Director-General may, in his discretion, give an allowance for recoverable and irrecoverable waste, but if recoverable waste is sent into customs territory, the recoverable waste is subject to the payment of customs duty and payment of tax in its condition and quantity and at its weight at the time of entry. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Calculation of duty

  55. 7.—(1) The rate of customs duty and the valuation, if any, applicable to any goods subject to customs duty shall be — (a) in the case of goods lawfully brought into or manufactured in a free trade zone — (i) if there has been no manipulation or manufacture effecting a change in tariff classification, the rate and valuation in force on the day on which the goods are sent into customs territory; (ii) if the goods are used in the manufacture of any product which is not of a class dutiable on entry into customs territory, the rate and valuation in force on the day on which the goods are removed for manufacture; and (iii) if the goods are manufactured from materials which are not subject to customs duty, the rate and valuation in force on the day on which the entry of the manufactured goods into customs territory is authorised by the proper officer of customs; and (b) in the case of uncustomed goods, the rate and valuation in force on the day on which the goods became uncustomed <!-- p. 10 furniture: 9 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> goods, if known, or the rate and valuation in force on the day of seizure, whichever is the higher. (2) [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (3) [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Retail trade

  56. 8.—(1) No retail trade shall be conducted within a free trade zone unless authorised in writing by the licensed FTZ operator of the free trade zone and subject to such conditions as the licensed FTZ operator of the free trade zone may impose. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (2) The licensed FTZ operator must, within the prescribed period after each authorisation of any retail trade under subsection (1), submit to the Director-General the prescribed information and documents in respect of the authorisation. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] #### Use and consumption of dutiable goods and taxable goods

  57. 9. Subject to sections 5, 6 and 8, a person who knows or has reason to believe that any customs duty or tax on any dutiable goods or taxable goods in a free trade zone has not been paid to the Director- General, must not use or consume the goods, unless the customs duty and tax on the goods are paid to the Director-General before the use or consumption. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Authorisation to enter or reside in free trade zone

  58. 10.—(1) A person must not enter or reside in a free trade zone without the permission of the licensed FTZ operator of the free trade zone. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (2) Despite any permission granted by the licensed FTZ operator under subsection (1), the Director-General may, by written order to <!-- p. 11 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 10 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> any person, prohibit the person from entering or residing in the free trade zone. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] #### Offences and penalties under this Part

  59. 10A.—(1) Any person who fails to comply with a direction given by a licensed FTZ operator under section 5(2), or who fails to comply with section 6(1), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to — (a) a fine not exceeding the greater of the following: (i) $10,000; (ii) the sum total of the customs duty and tax on the goods to which the non-compliance relates; or (b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (2) Any person who contravenes section 8 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000. (3) Any person who contravenes section 9 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to — (a) a fine not exceeding the greater of the following: (i) $10,000; (ii) the sum total of the customs duty and tax on the goods to which the contravention relates; or (b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both. (4) Any person who contravenes section 10(1) or a written order of the Director-General under section 10(2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 12 furniture: 11 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> ## PART 3 [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] 11. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] 12. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] 13. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] 14. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] ## PART 3A REGULATION OF FREE TRADE ZONE OPERATORS [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ### Division 1 — Licensing of free trade zone operators #### Unauthorised operation of free trade zone

  60. 14A.—(1) A person must not administer, maintain or operate a free trade zone unless the person is authorised to do so by an FTZ operator licence. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (3) [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] #### Application for or to renew free trade zone operator licences

  61. 14B.—(1) An application for or to renew an FTZ operator licence must be made to the Director-General in accordance with this section. (2) An application for or to renew an FTZ operator licence must — (a) be made in the form and manner determined by the Director-General; and (b) be accompanied by the information and documents that the Director-General requires to decide the application. <!-- p. 13 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 12 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (3) The Director-General may refuse to consider an application for or to renew an FTZ operator licence that is incomplete or not made in accordance with this Act. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Grant, etc., of free trade zone operator licences

  62. 14C.—(1) After considering any application for or to renew an FTZ operator licence, the Director-General may — (a) grant the applicant an FTZ operator licence or renew the FTZ operator licence, as the case may be; or (b) refuse to grant or renew the FTZ operator licence, as the case may be. (2) An FTZ operator licence is not transferrable. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Validity of free trade zone operator licence

  63. 14D. Every FTZ operator licence granted or renewed under section 14C continues in force for the period specified in the licence unless it is earlier suspended or revoked under section 14P. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Conditions of free trade zone operator licence

  64. 14E.—(1) The Director-General may at any time impose any conditions on or modify any conditions of an FTZ operator licence that the Director-General considers requisite or expedient having regard to the purposes of this Act. (2) The conditions under subsection (1) include conditions — (a) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to provide any support or assistance to any officer of customs for performing any duty of the officer of customs under this Act or any other written law; (b) requiring the licensed FTZ operator — (i) to nominate, and ensure that at all times there is nominated, one or more representatives of the licensed FTZ operator; and <!-- p. 14 furniture: 13 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (ii) to provide the name and contact details of each representative so nominated; (c) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to construct, install or otherwise provide, and maintain, in accordance with any specifications specified by the Director-General, any structure, facility or device — (i) for the purpose of ensuring the security of the free trade zone; (ii) for officers of customs whose duties require their presence within or at the perimeter of the free trade zone; or (iii) that is necessary for the proper and efficient functioning of the free trade zone; (d) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to implement systems and procedures to monitor the free trade zone and ensure the security of the free trade zone; (e) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to monitor the activities of any person within the free trade zone to ensure that activities are not carried out in contravention of this Act or any other written law in the free trade zone; (f) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to take reasonable measures to assess whether any person who intends to carry out any activities or otherwise operate in the free trade zone, or who is carrying out any activities or otherwise operating in the free trade zone, falls within any list of prohibited persons specified under subsection (3); (g) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to refuse to grant, to any person who falls within any list of prohibited persons specified under subsection (3), permission under section 10(1) to enter or reside in the free trade zone; (h) relating to the provision or publication, within the free trade zone, of information in relation to the requirements that any person or activity must comply with; <!-- p. 15 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 14 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (i) in relation to any goods or operations that are dangerous or prejudicial to the public interest, health or safety — (i) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to provide information to any person of the nature of those goods or operations; (ii) specifying the classes of goods that the licensed FTZ operator must order, under section 14H(1), to be excluded or removed from the free trade zone; and (iii) specifying the types of operations that the licensed FTZ operator must order, under section 14H(1), to be discontinued in the free trade zone; (j) specifying the types of retail trade that the licensed FTZ operator may authorise, and the conditions to be imposed by the licensed FTZ operator, under section 8(1); (k) specifying the persons that the licensed FTZ operator may permit to erect buildings and other structures in the free trade zone, the type of buildings and other structures that may be erected, and the conditions to be imposed by the licensed FTZ operator, under section 14G(1); and (l) requiring the licensed FTZ operator to ensure that any lessee (including an FTZ cargo handler) of the licensed FTZ operator of any immovable property in the free trade zone obtains the licensed FTZ operator’s approval before sub‑leasing the immovable property to any other person, and specifying the circumstances in which such approval may or may not be given. (3) The Director-General may, for the purpose of subsection (2)(f) and (g), specify as prohibited persons such persons as the Director- General has reasonable grounds to believe have engaged or are engaging in conduct that — (a) amounts to an offence involving fraud or dishonesty, whether in Singapore or elsewhere; or (b) will prejudice the security of the free trade zone. <!-- p. 16 furniture: 15 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (4) In this section, “representative”, in relation to a licensed FTZ operator, means an individual who — (a) is directly involved in the day-to-day management of the operations of the licensed FTZ operator within the free trade zone; (b) is responsible for ensuring the licensed FTZ operator adheres to the licence conditions imposed under subsection (1); and (c) is authorised to represent the licensed FTZ operator for the purposes of this Act. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ### Division 2 — Duties and powers of licensed free trade zone operators Director-General’s directions to licensed free trade zone operators

  65. 14F.—(1) The Director-General may give a licensed FTZ operator any directions that the Director-General considers necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act and for the purpose of protecting the revenue. (2) Where the licence of a licensed FTZ operator ceases to be in force after the direction is given, the former licensee must still comply with the direction. (3) A person who is or was a licensed FTZ operator that fails to comply with a direction given by the Director-General under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Free trade zone operators may allow erection of private buildings, etc.

  66. 14G.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a licensed FTZ operator of a free trade zone may permit any person to erect any buildings and other structures within the free trade zone as may be required, subject to any conditions that the licensed FTZ operator may impose. <!-- p. 17 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 16 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (2) Any permission under subsection (1) does not constitute a vested right as against the licensed FTZ operator or the Government. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Exclusion or removal of certain goods or discontinuance of operations

  67. 14H.—(1) A licensed FTZ operator of a free trade zone may by written order to any person — (a) prohibit the person from bringing into the free trade zone, or require the person to remove from the free trade zone, any goods if the goods are dangerous or prejudicial to the public interest, health or safety; or (b) require the person to discontinue any operations in the free trade zone if the operations are dangerous or prejudicial to the public interest, health or safety. (2) The Director-General may by written order to any person — (a) prohibit the person from bringing into the free trade zone, or require the person to remove from the free trade zone, any goods if, in the opinion of the Director-General, the goods are dangerous or prejudicial to the public interest, health or safety; or (b) require the person to discontinue any operations in the free trade zone if, in the opinion of the Director-General, the operations are dangerous or prejudicial to the public interest, health or safety. (3) To avoid doubt, nothing in subsection (2) prevents the Director- General from delegating to any other person all or any of the Director-General’s powers under that subsection, in accordance with section 4 or any other law. (4) Any person who fails to comply with an order under subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000. (5) Where any person fails to comply with an order under subsection (1) or (2), the Director-General may enter the free trade zone (including any building, structure, facility or conveyance in the <!-- p. 18 furniture: 17 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> free trade zone) and take such measures and do such work as may be necessary to give effect to the order. (6) Any costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General under subsection (5) may be recovered by the Director-General as a debt due to the Government from the person who failed to comply with the order. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ### Division 3 — Preparing and giving of reports and information, etc., by free trade zone operators Free trade zone operators to submit and retain reports

  68. 14I.—(1) The Director-General may, by written notice, require a person who is or was a licensed FTZ operator to prepare and submit (including on a periodic basis) to the Director-General a report containing any prescribed information and documents relating to any period when the person is or was a licensed FTZ operator. (2) The report mentioned in subsection (1) must be submitted in the form and manner and within the period specified by the Director- General. (3) A report mentioned in subsection (1) must be retained by the person who prepared the report for the prescribed period. (4) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to prepare or submit a report mentioned in subsection (1) in accordance with the specifications under subsection (2), or to retain a report in accordance with subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Free trade zone operators to give information on goods in contravention of written law

  69. 14J.—(1) Where a licensed FTZ operator of a free trade zone has reason to suspect (including from a disclosure under section 14M(3)) that any goods in the possession, custody, charge or control of the licensed FTZ operator or any FTZ cargo handler at the free trade zone — <!-- p. 19 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 18 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (a) are brought or intended to be brought into Singapore; (b) are manufactured in a free trade zone and are brought or intended to be brought into customs territory; (c) are manufactured; or (d) are brought or intended to be brought out of Singapore, in contravention of this Act or any other written law, the licensed FTZ operator must, within the prescribed period, disclose the suspicion to the Director-General in the form and manner specified by the Director-General. (2) Any licensed FTZ operator who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 3B REGULATION OF FREE TRADE ZONE CARGO HANDLERS, SHIPPING AGENTS AND AIR CARGO AGENTS [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Director-General’s directions to free trade zone cargo handlers

  70. 14K.—(1) The Director-General may give an FTZ cargo handler at a free trade zone any directions that the Director-General considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act and for the purpose of protecting the revenue. (2) The directions under subsection (1) include directions — (a) relating to monitoring and managing the movement of goods within the free trade zone; (b) requiring the FTZ cargo handler to implement systems and procedures to monitor and ensure the security of any premises within the free trade zone; and (c) requiring the FTZ cargo handler to provide information to any person in relation to any goods that are dangerous or <!-- p. 20 furniture: 19 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> prejudicial to the public interest, health or safety, generally or in specified circumstances. (3) Any FTZ cargo handler who fails to comply with a direction given by the Director-General under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Free trade zone cargo handlers to submit and retain reports

  71. 14L.—(1) The Director-General may, by written notice, require a person who is or was an FTZ cargo handler to prepare and submit (including on a periodic basis) to the Director-General a report containing any prescribed information and documents relating to any period when the person is or was an FTZ cargo handler. (2) The report mentioned in subsection (1) must be submitted in the form and manner and within the period specified by the Director- General. (3) A report mentioned in subsection (1) must be retained by the person who prepared the report for the prescribed period. (4) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to prepare or submit a report mentioned in subsection (1) in accordance with the specifications under subsection (2), or to retain a report in accordance with subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Free trade zone cargo handlers to give information on goods in contravention of written law

  72. 14M.—(1) This section applies where an FTZ cargo handler at a free trade zone (called in this section the relevant free trade zone) has reason to suspect (called in this section a suspicion) that any goods in the possession, custody, charge or control of the FTZ cargo handler — (a) are brought or intended to be brought into Singapore; <!-- p. 21 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 20 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) are manufactured in the free trade zone and are brought or intended to be brought into customs territory; (c) are manufactured; or (d) are brought or intended to be brought out of Singapore, in contravention of this Act or any other written law. (2) Where the FTZ cargo handler is also the licensed FTZ operator of the relevant free trade zone, the FTZ cargo handler must disclose the suspicion to the Director-General in accordance with section 14J(1). (3) Where the FTZ cargo handler is not the licensed FTZ operator of the relevant free trade zone, the FTZ cargo handler must, within the prescribed period, disclose the suspicion to the licensed FTZ operator of the relevant free trade zone in the form and manner specified by the licensed FTZ operator. (4) Any FTZ cargo handler who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Shipping agents and air cargo agents to give information on movement of goods

  73. 14N.—(1) This section applies to any shipping agent or air cargo agent, or a shipping agent or air cargo agent within any class of shipping agents or air cargo agents, that may be prescribed in relation to any goods — (a) brought or intended to be brought into a free trade zone; or (b) brought or intended to be brought out of a free trade zone. (2) The shipping agent or air cargo agent must give to the FTZ cargo handler at the free trade zone providing the service or facility for the storing, processing or handling of the goods, any information, specified by the Director-General, that is contained in the bill of lading or airway bill (as the case may be) for those goods, in the form and manner and within the time specified by the Director-General. <!-- p. 22 furniture: 21 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (3) Any shipping agent or air cargo agent who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Free trade zone cargo handlers to give information on movement of goods

  74. 14O.—(1) An FTZ cargo handler at a free trade zone must give to the Director-General the information obtained by the FTZ cargo handler under section 14N(2), in the form and manner and within the time specified by the Director-General. (2) Any FTZ cargo handler who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 3C ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ### Division 1 — Regulatory action in respect of free trade zone operator licences Suspension or revocation, etc., of free trade zone operator licences

  75. 14P.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) or (3), if the Director-General is satisfied that — (a) a licensed FTZ operator (called in this section a licensee) is contravening, or has contravened — (i) any of the conditions of the licensee’s licence; or (ii) any provision of this Act applicable to the licensee, contravention of which is not an offence; <!-- p. 23 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 22 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) the licensee’s application for or to renew the licence contained any information, document or statement that was false, or the application was misleading (including as a result of any omission) in any material particular, or the licensee otherwise obtained the licence or renewal through fraud or misrepresentation; (c) the licensee is convicted of any offence under this Act committed during the term of the licence; or (d) the public interest or national security of Singapore requires, the Director-General may suspend or revoke (without any compensation) the licensee’s licence. (2) The Director-General may, in lieu of suspending or revoking a licensee’s licence under subsection (1), do any one or more of the following: (a) censure the licensee in writing; (b) modify any condition of, or impose any new condition on, the licence; (c) direct the licensee to do, or to refrain from doing, such things as are specified in a direction to rectify a contravention; (d) for any contravention under subsection (1)(a), impose on the licensee a financial penalty of any amount, not exceeding $10,000, that the Director-General thinks fit. (3) Before exercising any powers under subsection (1) or (2), the Director-General must give written notice to the licensee concerned — (a) stating that the Director-General intends to take regulatory action against the licensee under this section; (b) specifying the type of action in subsection (1) or (2) the Director-General proposes to take, and each instance of contravention that is the subject of the action; and <!-- p. 24 furniture: 23 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (c) specifying the time (being not less than 14 days after the date of service of notice on the licensee) within which written representations may be made to the Director- General with respect to the proposed action. (4) The Director-General may, after considering any written representation under subsection (3)(c), decide to take such regulatory action in subsection (1) or (2) as the Director-General considers appropriate. (5) Where the Director-General has made any decision under subsection (4) against any licensee, the Director-General must serve on the licensee concerned a notice of the Director-General’s decision. (6) Subject to section 18, a decision to suspend or revoke a licence, or to impose a regulatory action in subsection (2), which is specified in the notice served under subsection (5) is to take effect from the date on which that notice is served, or on such other date as may be specified in the notice. (7) The suspension or revocation of any licence under this section does not affect the enforcement by any person of any right or claim against the licensee or former licensee, or by the licensee or former licensee of any right or claim against any person. (8) If the written notice under subsection (3) is given to a licensee while the licensee’s licence remains in force, and the licence ceases to be in force before the Director-General takes any regulatory action in subsection (1) or (2), this section continues to apply and the Director- General may, at any time after the licence ceases to be in force, take any regulatory action in subsection (2)(a) and (d) in relation to the former licensee. (9) In any proceedings under this section in relation to the conviction of a licensee for a criminal offence, the Director- General is to accept the licensee’s conviction as final and conclusive. (10) Any financial penalty imposed on a licensee or former licensee under subsection (2)(d) may be recovered by the Director-General as a debt due to the Government. <!-- p. 25 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 24 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (11) All financial penalties collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ### Division 2 — Powers of enforcement, etc. #### Interpretation of this Division

  76. 14Q. In this Division — “computer” and “computer output” have the meanings given by section 2(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993; “document” includes, in addition to a document in writing — (a) any map, plan, graph or drawing; (b) any photograph; (c) any label, marking or other writing which identifies or describes anything of which it forms a part, or to which it is attached by any means; (d) any disc, tape, soundtrack or other device in which sounds or other data (not being visual images) are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced from it; (e) any film (including microfilm), negative, tape, disc or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced from it; and (f) any paper or other material on which there are marks, impressions, figures, letters, symbols or perforations having a meaning for persons qualified to interpret them; “writing” includes any mode of representing or reproducing words, figures, drawings or symbols in a visible form. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 26 furniture: 25 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> #### Entering free trade zone to monitor compliance

  77. 14R.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), for the purpose of administering or enforcing this Act or determining whether this Act has been contravened, an officer of customs may, at any time — (a) enter any free trade zone; and (b) exercise any of the powers set out in sections 14S, 14T, 14U and 14V. (2) Before exercising the power of entry under subsection (1), the officer of customs must — (a) declare the office of the officer of customs; and (b) produce to the person against whom the officer of customs is acting any authority card that the Director-General may direct officers of customs to carry. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Power to search free trade zone, etc.

  78. 14S.—(1) Without affecting section 14W, an officer of customs who enters any free trade zone under section 14R has full and free access to any area within or at the perimeter of the free trade zone and any thing at or in the free trade zone, and may exercise all or any of the following powers for the purpose of administering or enforcing this Act or determining whether this Act has been contravened: (a) search the free trade zone for any thing; (b) examine any activity conducted in the free trade zone; (c) examine and check the operation of any thing in the free trade zone; (d) take any photograph or make any video or audio recording or sketch of any activity or thing mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c); (e) carry out any inspection, audit or stock check in the free trade zone; (f) require any person in the free trade zone to do one or both of the following: <!-- p. 27 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 26 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (i) provide any information within the knowledge of that person; (ii) take reasonable steps to provide any document; (g) inspect any goods, document, computer or computer output in the free trade zone; (h) without payment, make copies of any such document or computer output, or take extracts from any such goods, document, computer or computer output; (i) take into the free trade zone any equipment and materials that the officer of customs requires for the purpose of exercising any power under this section; (j) without payment, take possession of any thing in the free trade zone where, in the opinion of the officer of customs — (i) the inspection, checking, copying of or extraction from any part of such thing cannot reasonably be performed without taking possession of the thing; (ii) such thing may be interfered with or destroyed unless possession is taken; or (iii) such thing may be required as evidence in proceedings for a contravention of this Act. (2) An officer of customs may, in addition to the powers in subsection (1) — (a) require any person who is able to operate any thing in the free trade zone to do so for the purpose of — (i) enabling the officer of customs to exercise any power under this section; or (ii) enabling the officer of customs to ascertain whether it, or a disc, tape or other storage device that can be used with or is associated with it, contains information that is relevant to assessing compliance with this Act; <!-- p. 28 furniture: 27 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) if any information is found in exercise of the power in paragraph (a)(ii) — (i) require the information to be provided in documentary form, and keep or copy the documents so provided; or (ii) transfer, or require the transfer of, the information to a disc, tape or other storage device, and remove it from the free trade zone; and (c) in respect of any thing that the officer of customs takes possession of, require any person in the free trade zone to provide the officer of customs with or grant the officer of customs access to any information, code, software or technology required to operate or access data contained in such thing, or to retransform, unscramble or decrypt data contained in such thing into readable and comprehensive format or text. (3) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement of an officer of customs under subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months or to both. (4) To avoid doubt, a reference in this section to a free trade zone includes any building, structure, facility or conveyance in the free trade zone. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Detention of goods for inspection

  79. 14T.—(1) Where the Director-General has reason to suspect that any person has committed an offence under this Act, the Director- General may by written notice require an FTZ cargo handler at a free trade zone to detain any goods in the free trade zone, that are in the possession, custody, charge or control of the FTZ cargo handler and in relation to which the offence is suspected to have been committed, for inspection by an officer of customs under section 14S(1)(g). <!-- p. 29 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 28 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (2) Subject to subsection (3), the officer of customs must complete inspection of the goods within 48 hours after the officer of customs is given access to the goods for the purposes of the inspection. (3) Where the Director-General certifies that, due to the nature or quantum of the goods or the complexity of the inspection required, the inspection of the goods cannot be completed within the time specified in subsection (2), then the inspection need not be completed within that time but must in any case be completed as soon as practicable. (4) Any FTZ cargo handler who fails to comply with a written notice under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Power to require goods to be brought to examination station for inspection

  80. 14U.—(1) For the more convenient exercise of the power of inspection of any goods conferred by section 14S(1)(g) or 14T, an officer of customs may — (a) remove any goods required to be inspected to an examination station; or (b) require the goods to be so removed by the owner of the goods or the owner’s agent or any person having the possession, custody, charge or control of the goods. (2) Any person who fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (1)(b) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000. (3) Upon the failure by a person to comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(b), an officer of customs may remove the goods in the manner provided by subsection (1) and all the expenses of such removal (as certified by the Director-General) are recoverable by the Director-General as a debt due to the Government from that person or from the owner of the goods. <!-- p. 30 furniture: 29 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (4) In this section, “examination station” means any place which has been prescribed under section 143(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1960 as a customs office or customs station. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Powers of arrest

  81. 14V.—(1) Any officer of customs may arrest without warrant — (a) any person found committing or attempting to commit, or employing or aiding any person to commit, or abetting the commission of, an offence under section 14S(3); or (b) any person reasonably suspected of having committed, attempted to commit, employed or aided another person to commit, or abetted the commission of, an offence under section 14S(3), and may search or cause to be searched, any person so arrested. (2) A woman must not be searched except by a woman. (3) An officer of customs making an arrest without warrant must, without unnecessary delay and subject to this section as to bail or previous release, take or send the person arrested before a Magistrate’s Court. (4) An officer of customs must not detain in custody a person arrested without a warrant for a longer period than under the circumstances of the case is reasonable. (5) Such period must not exceed 48 hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate’s Court. (6) A person who has been arrested by an officer of customs must not be released except on the person’s own bond or on bail or under the special order in writing of a Magistrate or a senior officer of customs. (7) If any person liable to arrest under this Act is not arrested at the time of committing the offence for which the person is so liable, or after arrest makes his or her escape, the person may, at any time <!-- p. 31 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 30 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> afterwards, be arrested and be dealt with as if the person had been arrested at the time of committing the offence. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Power to require persons to provide information and documents

  82. 14W.—(1) For the purposes of administering or enforcing this Act or determining whether this Act has been contravened, an officer of customs may by written notice require any licensed FTZ operator, FTZ cargo handler, shipping agent or air cargo agent, or any officer or employee of any licensed FTZ operator, FTZ cargo handler, shipping agent or air cargo agent (called in this section the relevant person) to do one or both of the following: (a) provide any officer of customs with any information within the knowledge of the relevant person; (b) provide any officer of customs with any document in the possession, custody, charge or control of the relevant person. (2) The notice in subsection (1) may — (a) specify a time and place at which the relevant person must provide the information or document, in the form and manner specified in the notice; or (b) require the relevant person to attend personally before any officer of customs, at a place and time specified in the notice, to provide the information or document, in the form and manner specified in the notice. (3) Any person that, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a notice of an officer of customs under this section 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 12 months or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 32 furniture: 31 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> #### General power to require information or documents

  83. 14X.—(1) The power of an officer of customs to require a person to provide any information or document under section 14S or 14W includes the power — (a) to require the person, or any person who is or was an officer or employee of that person, to provide an explanation of the information or document; (b) if the information or document is not provided, to require that person to state, to the best of the person’s knowledge and belief, from whom the information or document may be obtained or where it is; (c) if the information is recorded otherwise than in legible form, to require the information to be provided in legible form without payment; and (d) in the case of a document, without payment — (i) to inspect, copy or take extracts from the document and, in relation to a document kept in electronic form, to inspect, copy or take extracts from the document in legible form; (ii) to take possession of the document if in the opinion of the officer of customs — (A) the inspection, copying or extraction cannot reasonably be performed without taking possession of the document; (B) the document may be interfered with or destroyed unless possession of the document is taken; or (C) the document may be required as evidence in proceedings for an offence under this Act; and (iii) for the purposes of sub‑paragraph (ii), to require the person to provide the officer of customs with or grant the officer of customs access to any information, code, software or technology required to access the document or data contained in the document, or to <!-- p. 33 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 32 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> retransform, unscramble or decrypt data contained in the document into readable and comprehensive format or text. (2) A statement made by any person providing information under section 14S(1)(f) or 14W(2)(b) must — (a) be reduced to writing; (b) be read over to the person; (c) if the person does not understand English, be interpreted for the person in a language that the person understands; and (d) after correction, if necessary, be signed by the person. (3) A person is not obliged under section 14S or 14W to provide (including through the production of a document) — (a) any information that the person is under any statutory obligation (other than sections 128, 128A, 129 and 131 of the Evidence Act 1893) to observe secrecy; or (b) any information subject to legal privilege. (4) The generality of the term “reasonable excuse” in sections 14S(3) and 14W(3) is not affected by subsection (3). (5) Except as provided under subsection (3), it is not a defence to a charge under section 14S(3) or 14W(3) for a failure to provide any information or document sought in accordance with that provision, that the person is under a duty of secrecy in respect of that information or the contents of that document (called in this section a displaced duty of secrecy). (6) A person that in good faith complies with a requirement or notice to provide any information or document is not to be treated as being in breach of a displaced duty of secrecy. (7) No civil or criminal action for a breach of a displaced duty of secrecy, other than a criminal action for an offence under section 14Y, lies against a person — <!-- p. 34 furniture: 33 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (a) for providing any information or document if the person did so in good faith in compliance with a requirement or notice under section 14S or 14W; or (b) for doing or omitting to do any act if the person did or omitted to do the act in good faith and as a result of complying with such a requirement or notice. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Offences for false statements, forging of documentation, etc.

  84. 14Y.—(1) Any person that, in response to any requirement or notice under this Act, provides any information, document or statement that the person knows is false or misleading in any material particular, 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 12 months or to both. (2) Any person that — (a) counterfeits or falsifies, or uses, when counterfeited or falsified, any document which is or may be required under this Act; or (b) fraudulently alters any document, or counterfeits the seal, signature, initials or other mark of, or used by, any officer of customs for the verification of any such document or for the security of any goods, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] Penalty for assaulting or obstructing officers of customs, rescuing goods, resisting arrest and escaping from custody

  85. 14Z. Any person who — (a) assaults, abuses or obstructs any officer of customs or any person acting in the officer’s aid or assistance, or duly employed for the prevention of offences under this Act, in the execution of his or her duty or in the due detention of any goods liable to detention under this Act; <!-- p. 35 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 34 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) rescues or endeavours to rescue, or causes to be rescued, anything which has been duly detained; (c) before or after any detention of any package or goods, staves, breaks or otherwise destroys the package or goods to prevent the detention of the package or goods or the securing of the same; or (d) intentionally offers any resistance or illegal obstruction to the lawful apprehension of himself or herself or of any other person, or escapes or attempts to escape from any custody in which he or she is lawfully detained, or rescues or attempts to rescue any other person from any custody in which that person is lawfully detained, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable — (e) on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months or to both; and (f) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 4 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 15. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] 16. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] #### Preservation of secrecy

  86. 16A.—(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (5), the following persons (each called in this section a specified person) must not publish, or communicate or disclose to any person, any particulars, information or document submitted or given to the specified person for the purposes of this Act, unless the specified person has the prior written consent of the person to whom the information relates: (aa) [Deleted by Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] <!-- p. 36 furniture: 35 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (a) a licensed FTZ operator; (b) an FTZ cargo handler; (c) a shipping agent; (d) an air cargo agent; (e) any officer or employee of a licensed FTZ operator, an FTZ cargo handler, a shipping agent or an air cargo agent; [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (f) an officer of customs; (g) any person employed or engaged in the administration of this Act. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the publication, communication or disclosure is necessary for the purposes of — (a) a prosecution under this Act; (b) enabling an officer of customs to enforce a provision of this Act; (c) enabling an officer of customs to investigate a suspected offence under this Act; (d) a prosecution of any offence under any written law (other than this Act) that may be prescribed; (e) enabling a public agency to enforce any provision of any written law (other than this Act) that may be prescribed; (f) enabling a public agency to investigate any suspected offence under any written law (other than this Act) that may be prescribed; (g) subject to subsection (3), enabling a public agency to discharge its function, duty or power of collecting, compiling and analysing the particulars, information or document, and — (i) providing its collection, compilation or analysis to another public agency for policy formulation or review by that other public agency; or <!-- p. 37 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 36 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (ii) publishing its collection, compilation or analysis in any form that will not identify, and is not reasonably capable of being used to identify, any person to which the particulars, information or document relates; (h) subject to subsection (3), enabling a public agency to take steps to protect individuals and communities from risks or threats to public health or safety, or to protect against risks or threats to the security of Singapore (including her financial and economic security); (ha) enabling a Suspicious Transaction Reporting Officer to carry out any of the responsibilities of the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office, including for the purpose of detecting the possible commission of an offence specified in the First, Second or Third Schedule to the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992; [Act 24 of 2024 wef 14/11/2024] (i) satisfying a request for information under section 353 of the Copyright Act 2021, section 59B or 67D of the Geographical Indications Act 2014, section 68I of the Registered Designs Act 2000, or section 85B or 93E of the Trade Marks Act 1998; or (j) complying with any request pursuant to a provision of any prescribed agreement, where the conditions specified in subsection (8) are satisfied. (3) No particulars, information or document mentioned in subsection (1) may be published, communicated or disclosed under subsection (2)(g) and (h) except with the approval of the Minister. (4) The approval of the Minister mentioned in subsection (3) may be given in respect of — (a) a specific public agency or a class of public agencies; and (b) a specific request for particulars, information or documents, or requests for particulars, information or <!-- p. 38 furniture: 37 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> documents falling within any class that the Minister may specify. (5) Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the Minister, and any public officer assisting the Minister and duly authorised by the Minister for the purposes of this subsection, from having access to any particulars, information or document mentioned in subsection (1) that may be necessary for the performance of the Minister’s official duties in connection with this Act. (6) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. (7) Any person having possession of any particulars, information or document that to the person’s knowledge has been published, communicated or disclosed in contravention of this section, who publishes, communicates or discloses those particulars, information or document to any other person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. (8) The conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(j) are as follows: (a) the particulars, information or documents requested by the foreign country are available to the Director-General; (b) unless the Government otherwise allows, the foreign country undertakes to keep the information given confidential at all times; (c) the disclosure of the information is not likely to prejudice the essential security interests of Singapore. (9) In this section — “foreign country” means any country or territory outside Singapore; “prescribed agreement” means an agreement between Singapore and a foreign country which is prescribed as an agreement for the purpose of subsection (2)(j); <!-- p. 39 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 38 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> “public agency” means a public officer, an Organ of State or a ministry or department of the Government, or a public authority established by or under any public Act for a public purpose or a member, an officer or an employee, or any department, of the public authority; [Act 24 of 2024 wef 14/11/2024] “Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office” means the office mentioned in section 5(1) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992; [Act 24 of 2024 wef 14/11/2024] “Suspicious Transaction Reporting Officer” means a Suspicious Transaction Reporting Officer as defined in section 2(1) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 who is a Commercial Affairs Officer appointed under section 64 of the Police Force Act 2004. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 24 of 2024 wef 14/11/2024] #### Action of officers no offence

  87. 17. Nothing done by an officer of customs in the course of his duties shall be deemed to be an offence under this Act. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] #### Protection from personal liability

  88. 17A. No liability shall lie personally against any officer of customs or other person acting under the direction of the Director-General for anything done or intended to be done in good faith and with reasonable care in — (a) the exercise or purported exercise of any power under this Act; or (b) the performance or purported performance of any function under this Act. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 40 furniture: 39 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> Appeal from decision of licensed free trade zone operator or Director-General

  89. 18.—(1) Where it is provided in this Act that the decision on any matter rests with a licensed FTZ operator or the Director‑General, any person aggrieved by the decision may appeal to the Minister. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] (2) Unless otherwise expressly provided, an appeal against the decision of a licensed FTZ operator or the Director-General does not affect the operation of the decision appealed against or prevent the taking of action to implement the decision, and unless otherwise directed by the Minister, the decision appealed against must be complied with until the determination of the appeal. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] [Act 33 of 2023 wef 25/11/2024] #### Service of documents

  90. 18A.—(1) A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be served on, given to or submitted to a person may be served, given or submitted as described in this section. (2) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on, given to or submitted to an individual may be served, given or submitted — (a) by giving it to the individual personally; (b) by sending it by post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address; or (c) by sending it by email to the individual’s last email address. (3) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on, given to or submitted to a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) may be served, given or submitted — (a) by giving it to any partner, secretary or other similar officer of the partnership; <!-- p. 41 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 40 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) by leaving it at, or by sending it by post to, the partnership’s business address; or (c) by sending it by email to the partnership’s last email address. (4) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on, given to or submitted to a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) or an unincorporated association may be served, given or submitted — (a) by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association, or the limited liability partnership’s manager; (b) by leaving it at, or by sending it by post to, the registered office or principal office in Singapore of the body corporate or unincorporated association; or (c) by sending it by email to the last email address of the body corporate or unincorporated association. (5) Service of a document takes effect — (a) if the document is sent by email, at the time that the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person to whom it is sent; and (b) if the document is sent by post, 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered). (6) However, service of any document under this Act on a person by email may be effected only with the person’s prior written consent to service in that way. (7) However, this section does not apply to documents to be served in proceedings in court. (8) In this section — “business address” means — (a) in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business in Singapore; or <!-- p. 42 furniture: 41 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the partnership’s principal or last known place of business in Singapore; “document” includes a notice, direction or order permitted or required by this Act to be served, given or submitted; “last email address” means the last email address given by the addressee concerned to the person giving or serving the document as the email address for the service of documents under this Act; “limited liability partnership” has the meaning given by the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005; “residential address” means an individual’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 5 PROVISIONS AS TO TRIALS AND PROCEEDINGS 19. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Burden of proof

  91. 20. If in any prosecution in respect of any goods seized for non‑compliance with the provisions of this Act or for any other cause of forfeiture or for the recovery of any penalty or penalties under this Act, any dispute arises as to whether the goods have been lawfully brought into a free trade zone or lawfully landed, or lawfully manipulated or manufactured in a free trade zone, or whether the goods have been lawfully used or consumed, then and in every such case the burden of proof shall lie on the defendant in such prosecution. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 6 OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 21. [Repealed by Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] <!-- p. 43 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 42 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> #### Attempts and abetments

  92. 22. Whoever attempts to commit any offence punishable under this Act or abets the commission of the offence shall be punished with the punishment provided for the offence. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Offences by bodies of persons and by servants and agents

  93. 23.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, firm, society or other body of persons, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer or a partner of the company, firm, society or other body of persons or was purporting to act in that capacity shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence, unless he proves that the offence was committed without his consent or connivance and that he exercised all such diligence to prevent the commission of the offence as he ought to have exercised, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (2) Where any person would be liable under this Act to any punishment, penalty or forfeiture for any act, omission, neglect or default, he shall be liable to the same punishment, penalty or forfeiture for every such act, omission, neglect or default of any clerk, servant or agent, or of the clerk or servant of the agent provided that the act, omission, neglect or default was committed by the clerk or servant in the course of his employment or by the agent when acting on behalf of such person or by the clerk or servant of the agent when acting in the course of his employment in such circumstances that had the act, omission, neglect or default been committed by the agent his principal would have been liable under this section. #### Composition of offences

  94. 23A.—(1) The Director-General may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower of the following: (a) one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence; <!-- p. 44 furniture: 43 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (b) $5,000. (2) On payment of such sum of money, no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence. (3) All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] ## PART 7 GENERAL [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### General exemption

  95. 23B. The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of the provisions of this Act, either generally or in a particular case and subject to any conditions that the Minister may specify in the order. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] #### Minister to make regulations

  96. 24.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for or in respect of every purpose which is deemed by him necessary for the carrying out of this Act. (1A) Without affecting subsection (1), the Minister may make regulations for or with respect to, or to otherwise make provision for, all or any of the following matters: (a) the requirements applicable to a licensed FTZ operator in relation to the administration, maintenance and operation of a free trade zone; (b) the requirements applicable to an FTZ cargo handler in relation to monitoring and managing the activities undertaken in respect of any goods within a free trade zone; (c) the requirements governing manufacture within a free trade zone; <!-- p. 45 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 44 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (d) the requirements in relation to an application for an FTZ operator licence; (e) the form of any application, notice, appeal, report, record, statement or other document mentioned in this Act; (f) the preparation of any application, notice, appeal, report, record, statement or other document mentioned in this Act, including the person that must prepare the same and any criteria that the person must satisfy; (g) the information and documents to be included in or to accompany any application, notice, appeal, report, record, statement or other document mentioned in this Act; (h) the period within which any application, notice, appeal, report, record, statement or other document is to be submitted (including at prescribed intervals); (i) the manner in which any application, notice, appeal, report, record, statement or other document mentioned in this Act is to be submitted, including the person that must submit the same and any criteria that the person must satisfy; (j) any fees and charges payable — (i) for any application under, or for any purpose of, this Act; (ii) in addition to or in lieu of any fee under sub‑paragraph (i), for any licence granted or renewed under this Act; or (iii) for anything done or any services rendered by the Director-General or any officer of customs under or by virtue of this Act, (j) and for the payment of the fees and charges in instalments or on a periodic basis; (k) any other matter that is required or permitted to be prescribed to give effect to this Act. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (1B) For the purpose of subsection (1A)(j), the regulations may prescribe different rates of fees and charges — <!-- p. 46 furniture: 45 Free Trade Zones Act 1966 2020 Ed. | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> (a) in respect of different classes of persons or free trade zones; (b) in respect of different periods (including different periods during the validity period of a licence); or (c) on any other differential basis. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (1C) To avoid doubt, without affecting any other written law or rule of law, any fee prescribed in regulations that becomes payable may be recovered by the Director-General as a debt due to the Government. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (1D) Regulations made under this section may make different provision — (a) for different classes, descriptions or types of goods or persons; and (b) for different circumstances. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (1E) The Minister may, in making any regulations, provide that any contravention of any provision of the regulations shall be an offence punishable with a fine not exceeding $5,000. [Act 33 of 2023 wef 01/03/2024] (2) All regulations and orders made under this Act shall be published in the Gazette and shall be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication. <!-- p. 47 furniture: 2020 Ed. Free Trade Zones Act 1966 46 | Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> LEGISLATIVE HISTORY FREE TRADE ZONES ACT 1966 This Legislative History is a service provided by the Law Revision Commission on a best-efforts basis. It is not part of the Act.

  97. 1. Act 30 of 1966 — Free Trade Zones Act, 1966 Bill : 29/1966 First Reading : 17 August 1966 Second and Third Readings : 26 August 1966 Commencement : 1 September 1969

  98. 2. Act 50 of 1970 — Customs (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Amendments made by section 29 of the above Act) Bill : 50/1970 First Reading : 4 November 1970 Second and Third Readings : 30 December 1970 Commencement : 1 February 1971 (section 29) 3. 1970 Revised Edition — Free Trade Zones Act (Chapter 140) Operation : 30 April 1971 4. 1985 Revised Edition — Free Trade Zones Act (Chapter 114) Operation : 30 March 1987

  99. 5. Act 11 of 1997 — Customs (Amendment) Act 1997 (Amendments made by section 5 of the above Act) Bill : 10/1997 First Reading : 25 August 1997 Second Reading : 7 October 1997 Notice of Amendments : 7 October 1997 Third Reading : 7 October 1997 Commencement : 17 October 1997 (section 5)

  100. 6. Act 33 of 2000 — Customs (Amendment) Act 2000 (Amendments made by section 12 of the above Act) Bill : 33/2000 First Reading : 13 November 2000 <!-- p. 48 furniture: Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> ii Second and Third Readings : 22 November 2000 Commencement : 1 January 2001 (section 12)

  101. 7. Act 4 of 2003 — Customs (Amendment) Act 2003 (Amendments made by section 26 read with item (10) of the Schedule to the above Act) Bill : 6/2003 First Reading : 10 March 2003 Second and Third Readings : 21 March 2003 Commencement : 1 April 2003 (section 26 read with item (10) of the Schedule)

  102. 8. Act 15 of 2010 — Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (Amendments made by section 430 read with item 43 of the Sixth Schedule to the above Act) Bill : 11/2010 First Reading : 26 April 2010 Second Reading : 18 May 2010 Third Reading : 19 May 2010 Commencement : 2 January 2011 (section 430 read with item 43 of the Sixth Schedule) 9. 2014 Revised Edition — Free Trade Zones Act (Chapter 114) Operation : 31 May 2014 10. 2020 Revised Edition — Free Trade Zones Act 1966 Operation : 31 December 2021

  103. 11. Act 24 of 2024 — Anti-Money Laundering and Other Matters Act 2024 Bill : 20/2024 First Reading : 2 July 2024 Second and Third Readings : 6 August 2024 Commencement : 14 November 2024

  104. 12. Act 33 of 2023 — Free Trade Zones (Amendment) Act 2023 Bill : 29/2023 First Reading : 18 September 2023 Second and Third Readings : 4 October 2023 <!-- p. 49 furniture: Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 --> iii Commencement : 1 March 2024 25 November 2024 Abbreviations . (updated on 29 August 2022) G.N. Gazette Notification G.N. Sp. Gazette Notification (Special Supplement) L.A. Legislative Assembly L.N. Legal Notification (Federal/Malaysian) M. Malaya/Malaysia (including Federated Malay States, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya and Federation of Malaysia) Parl. Parliament S Subsidiary Legislation S.I. Statutory Instrument (United Kingdom) S (N.S.) Subsidiary Legislation (New Series) S.S.G.G. Straits Settlements Government Gazette S.S.G.G. (E) Straits Settlements Government Gazette (Extraordinary) <!-- p. 50 furniture: Informal Consolidation – version in force from 25/11/2024 -->

Free Trade Zones Act 1966 · Nelum