Tighter enforcement against managers, owners of places with rat problems from April 1

There were more than 1,000 cases of enforcement action taken against owners or occupiers of places with rat problems in 2024, with the authorities due to clamp down harder on this issue from April 1.

In a statement on Feb 14, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the cases in 2024 involved the likes of shopping malls, trade premises and food establishments, with the number nearly double the 670 cases in 2023.

Close to half of the cases in 2024 were due to poor refuse management, said the agency.

From April 1, NEA will tighten enforcement against managers and owners of places for rat-related lapses in three areas:

• Poor refuse management and housekeeping practices that create favourable conditions for rats to live and breed
• Defects in refuse-handling facilities that can potentially serve as entry points for rats
• Presence of rat nests

Those found guilty under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to three months, or both, for a first offence.

A first-time offender under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations can be fined up to $1,000, with further fines if the offence continues after conviction.

The aim of the new measures is to highlight the key role that venue managers play in putting in place measures to prevent rat infestations, according to NEA.

"Relying on enforcement alone would be insufficient to mitigate rat infestations in the longer term," the agency said, adding that it uses technological tools such as infrared and thermal cameras to detect and monitor rat activities.

It shares the data from its surveillance with parties such as town councils and government agencies to aid them in their efforts to control the rat problem.

NEA advised the public to bag and dispose of food waste properly into refuse bins, and keep bin covers shut when possible.

Also, food handlers should keep food items above the ground, and in tightly covered containers that rats cannot access, said NEA.

Earlier in 2025, stallholders at Beauty World Food Centre were asked to ensure that food was kept in rat-proof containers, after checks hinted at the presence of rats in the ceiling and common areas.

The building management, in a letter to stall operators, said NEA found "extensive rodent droppings" throughout the premises.

In May 2023, a rat about the size of a 500ml water bottle was seen scurrying around a food display shelf at a Vietnamese sandwich stall in Ang Mo Kio.