Conditions for Specific Types of Food for Import
Conditions to Import Meat & Meat Products
Please follow these steps to ensure that conditions are met prior to the import of meat and meat products. For more information, you may refer to the Wholesome Meat and Fish (Import, Export and Transhipment) Rules.
1. Import from approved sources
Meat and meat products can only be imported from SFA-approved sources. Please use our database to search for approved overseas establishments.
As the list of approved countries/regions and establishments are subject to change, please check before importing meat and meat products into Singapore. To find out more about the latest suspensions of source countries/regions or establishments, refer to SFA’s Circulars. For list of suspended countries/regions due to HPAI, refer to this document.
2. Meet all veterinary conditions
Only meat and meat products that meet SFA's veterinary conditions are allowed for import. Please refer to the documents below for details:
3. Obtain a health certificate
Each import consignment must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country or region. This is to certify that your imports comply with Singapore's animal health and food safety requirements.
4. Ensure food labels are accurate and complete
Every carton and basic packaging unit of your imported meat or meat product must be labelled with the following:
- Description of the meat product
- Country of origin of the meat product
- Brand name of the meat product, if any
- Name and designation number of the processing establishment, if applicable
- Date on which the meat product was processed
- In the case of a processed meat product, the name and designation number of the slaughterhouse in which the animals used in the production of such meat product were slaughtered and the date of the slaughter
- Name and designation number of the establishment in which, and the date on which, the meat product was packed
- Batch number and, where the meat product was canned, the canning code
- Net weight of meat product in each basic packaging and outer carton
Conditions to Import Eggs & Egg Products
Please follow these steps to ensure that conditions are met prior to the import of eggs and egg products.
Fresh eggs
1. Import from approved sources
Note that each consignment of fresh eggs must be derived from a single farm.
As the list of approved countries/regions and farms are subject to change, please check before importing fresh eggs into Singapore. For list of suspended countries/regions due to HPAI, refer to this document.
2. Meet all veterinary conditions
All imported eggs must comply with the conditions stated in the relevant Veterinary Conditions documents:
3. Obtain a veterinary health certificate
Each import consignment must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by the relevant veterinary authority of the exporting country or region. The certificate must be dated within 7 days of import.
Processed eggs
1. Import from approved sources
Processed eggs can only be imported from SFA-approved sources. Please use our database to search for approved overseas food establishments.
As the list of approved establishments is subject to change, please check before importing processed eggs into Singapore.
2. Meet all veterinary conditions
Only egg products that meet SFA's veterinary conditions are allowed for import. Please refer to the document below for details.
3. Obtain a health certificate
Each import consignment must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country/region. This is to certify that your imports comply with Singapore's animal health and food safety requirements.
Conditions to Import Fish & Fish Products
Generally, you can import fish and fish products from any country or region without obtaining a health
certificate. However, restrictions and conditions apply for:
- Items classified as high-risk products; and
- Fish species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Please follow these steps to ensure that conditions are met prior to the import of fish and fish products. For more information, you may refer to the Wholesome Meat and Fish (Import, Export and Transhipment) Rules.
1. Comply with the rules on high-risk products
| High Risk Product |
Conditions for Import |
Chilled shucked raw oysters
Chilled cockle meat
Chilled cooked prawn/shrimp
Chilled crab meat
|
Import is not allowed
|
Live oysters
|
Import is only allowed from countries or regions which meet SFA’s requirements for a
shellfish sanitation programme. Please see the approved list of countries/regions.
Each import consignment must be accompanied by a health
certificate issued by the relevant authority of the exporting
country or region.
|
Frozen oysters
Frozen blood cockle meat
Frozen cooked prawns
Frozen raw/cooked crab meat
|
Each consignment you import must be accompanied by a health
certificate issued by the relevant authority of the exporting
country or region.
|
| Frozen pearl oyster meat (adductor muscle) |
Export to Singapore is allowed from any country or region, provided that importers:
- Liaise with their supplier and obtain documentary proof to demonstrate that steps were taken to verify that the pearl oyster meat products can meet the following import requirements:
- The pearl oyster meat products are harvested and processed by an establishment regulated by the competent authority in the exporting country/region.
- The pearl oyster meat products are processed under hygienic and sanitary conditions.
- The pearl oyster meat products meet the Singapore Food Regulations and SFA’s import requirements.
- Maintain proper documentation records of the documentary proof. SFA may request for these documentary proof as part of our inspection checks.
Please refer to this trade circular for detailed information.
|
| Pufferfish (wild and farmed pufferfish muscle meat and farmed pufferfish parts, i.e. fins, skin and milt only) |
With effect from 31 August 2022, wild and farmed pufferfish muscle meat and farmed pufferfish parts (fins, skin and milt) can only be imported from SFA-accredited sources. Refer to the list of accredited pufferfish establishments approved for export to Singapore.
Importers must take note of the following requirements prior to import:
- The import of pufferfish products is only allowed from SFA-approved pufferfish establishments in the country/region.
- Each consignment imported must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the relevant authority of the exporting country/region.
Please refer to this circular for detailed information.
|
2. Obtain CITES permits for CITES listed species
If you are importing fish species listed under
CITES (whole fish and all parts or derivatives), the following are required:
Your imports must be accompanied by these permits. Below are the fish species listed under
CITES:
CITES Appendix II
|
CITES Appendix III
|
- Sturgeon (Acipenseriformes species)
- Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
- Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
- Seahorses (Hippocampus species)
- Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
- Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
- Mediterranean date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga)
- Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus)
- Scalloped Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini)
- Great Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
- Smooth Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)
- Oceanic Whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
- Mobuild rays (Manta spp.)
- European eel (Anguilla anguilla)
|
- "Rock Sea Cucumber" (Isostichopus fuscus) from Ecuador
|
Guidelines to Import Insects & Insect Products
SFA’s priority is to ensure the safety of food consumed in Singapore. As the insect industry is nascent and insects are a new food item here, SFA has developed the insect regulatory framework, which puts in place guidelines for insects to be approved as food.
For imports of insects and insect products for human consumption, importers should register with SFA for the ‘Registration to import processed food and food appliances’ at GoBusiness Licensing Website. Insects and insect products may be imported from any country or region as long as the imported insect and insect products meet SFA’s guidelines.
The following guidelines will apply to the import of insects and insect products, depending on their intended purpose (i.e. production for human consumption or animal feed for food-producing animals).
| S/N |
Import guidelines |
| A. For all import of insects and insect products for human consumption |
| 1 |
Submission of the following documents (one-time submission) from importer for SFA’s consideration:
- Documentary proof that products are manufactured in premises regulated by Competent Authority; and
- Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)/ Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan showing that products are manufactured in establishments which have in place production and post-harvest processes to identify the hazard(s) and the control measures.
|
| 2 |
Submission of Health certificate for every consignment to certify that:
- Insects are not harvested from the wild;
- Manure, decomposing organic material and materials originating from diseased animals or fish are not used as feeding substrates. (Decomposing state is identified by putrid odours, mushy/slimy, or with visible moulad or bacteria growth. Substrates which have undergone controlled fermentation are permitted);
- No materials of ruminant origin are used as feeding substrate, except for deboned meat cuts and dairy (e.g. milk and cheese) products; and
- The products have been handled and packed in a hygienic manner and are free from contaminants.
|
| 3 |
The insects imported should only be those listed in the List of Insects Assessed to be Safe for Human Consumption.
[Declaration of insects imported is required as part of cargo clearance permit approval. Insects which are not in this list should undergo evaluation to ensure that the insect species are safe to consume.]
SFA requires the following information for the assessment of new insects:
- Scientific name of insect and intended life stage of consumption
- Details of the farming and processing method, including the type of substrate (i.e. material used for feeding insects)
- Evidence of history of use as a food in a country other than Singapore
- Information relied on to establish that the species and life stage is safe for consumption (e.g. scientific literature, laboratory reports)
- Singapore address or entity of applicant]
|
| 4 |
For insects and insect products which are imported for direct human consumption (i.e. ready-to-eat products, eg. fried insect snacks, protein bars with insect powder):
- Submission of health certificate to certify that products have been subjected to sufficient heat treatment, or an equivalent bactericidal process, to kill pathogens prior to consumption; and are safe for consumption.
|
| B. For all import of insects and insect products as animal feed |
| 1 |
Submission of the following documents (one-time submission) from importer for SFA’s consideration:
- Documentary proof that products are manufactured in premises regulated by Competent Authority; and
- Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)/ Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan showing that products are manufactured in establishments which have in place production and post-harvest processes to identify the hazard(s) and the control measures.
|
| 2 |
Submission of health certificate for every consignment to certify that:
- Insects are not harvested from the wild;
- Manure, decomposing organic material and materials originating from diseased animals or fish are not used as feeding substrates. (Decomposing state is identified by putrid odours, mushy/slimy, or with visible mould or bacteria growth. Substrates which have undergone controlled fermentation are permitted);
- No materials of ruminant origin are used as feeding substrate, except for deboned meat cuts and dairy (e.g. milk and cheese) products; and
- The products have been handled and packed in a hygienic manner and are free from contaminants.
|
| C. For all imports of live insects for local production (for human consumption) |
| 1 |
Have fulfilled and obtained approval from the National Parks Board (NParks) on requirements for the import conditions for insects and other invertebrates. |
| 2 |
Submission of the following documents (one-time submission) from importer for SFA’s consideration:
- Documentary proof that insects are farmed in premises regulated by Competent Authority.
|
| 3 |
Submission of Health certificate for every consignment to certify that:
- Insects are not harvested from the wild;
- Manure, decomposing organic material and materials originating from diseased animals or fish are not used as feeding substrates. (Decomposing state is identified by putrid odours, mushy/slimy, or with visible mould or bacteria growth. Substrates which have undergone controlled fermentation are permitted);
- No materials of ruminant origin are used as feeding substrate, except for deboned meat cuts and dairy (e.g. milk and cheese) products.
|
| 4 |
The insects imported should only be those listed in the List of Insects Assessed to be Safe for Human Consumption.
[Declaration of insect species imported is required as part of cargo clearance permit approval. Insects which are not in this list should undergo evaluation to ensure that the insect species are safe to consume.]
SFA requires the following information for the assessment of new insect species:
- Scientific name of insect and intended life stage of consumption
- Details of the farming and processing method, including the type of substrate (i.e. material used for feeding insects)
- Evidence of history of use as a food in a country other than Singapore
- Information relied on to establish that the species and life stage is safe for consumption (e.g. scientific literature, laboratory reports)
- Singapore address or entity of applicant
|
| D. For all imports of live insects for local production as animal feed |
| 1 |
Have fulfilled and obtained approval from the National Parks Board (NParks) on requirements for the import conditions for insects and other invertebrates.
|
| 2 |
Submission of the following documents (one-time submission) from importer for SFA’s consideration:
- Documentary proof that insects are farmed in premises regulated by Competent Authority
|
| 3 |
Submission of health certificate for every consignment to certify that:
- Insects are not harvested from the wild;
- Manure, decomposing organic material and materials originating from diseased animals or fish are not used as feeding substrates. (Decomposing state is identified by putrid odours, mushy/slimy, or with visible mould or bacteria growth. Substrates which have undergone controlled fermentation are permitted);
- No materials of ruminant origin are used as feeding substrate, except for deboned meat cuts and dairy (e.g. milk and cheese) products.
|
HS and product codes for insect and insect products for human consumption can be found in Product Codes for Processed food.
The overseas insect processing establishment, from which the insect and insect products (for human consumption) are sourced, should be registered with SFA with submission of supporting documents such as regulated source documents and Food Safety Management System/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points. This is a one-time registration. Please register by filling in the online form here.
In order to facilitate import clearance, importers of insects and insect products (for human consumption and as animal feed for food-producing animals) should, in applying for permits use, the correct HS and product codes, attach the required health certificate, and declare the specific establishment code of the insect processing establishment in the appropriate fields in TradeNet. The establishment codes are to be filled in the field name, “CA/SC Code 1”. If the establishment codes are not filled in the designated field, invalid establishment codes are filled, or the required health certificate is not attached, the permit declaration will be rejected.
Conditions to Import Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables can be imported from any country provided they meet SFA’s
conditions. Fresh fruits and vegetables refer to raw and unprocessed fruits and
vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables which have undergone some processing such as cutting, peeling, canning
and freezing are regulated as processed food (To hyperlink to the conditions to import processed food and food appliances section).
Please follow these steps to ensure that conditions are met prior to the import of fresh fruits and vegetables.
1. Ensure the produce abides to the Control of Plants Rules
According to the Control of Plants (Import & Transshipment of Fresh Fruits &
Vegetables) Rules, imported fresh fruits and vegetables must not contain:
2. Ensure labels are accurate and complete
Please ensure that the containers (e.g. cartons, baskets, etc.) of the produce are labelled
with the following:
- Name and address of the producer
- Product description
- Date of export/packing
Conditions to Import Processed Food & Food Appliances
Processed food and food appliances can be imported from any country or region as long as the imports meet SFA’s
conditions.
Please follow these steps to ensure that conditions are met prior to the import of processed food and food appliances.
1. Import from regulated establishments
Regulated Source Programme
A regulated source programme aims to ensure the safety of high-risk products. For such processed food products, they must be manufactured in
an establishment which:
- is under proper supervision of the food authority of the exporting country or region,
or
- has a quality assurance programme acceptable to SFA.
Documentary proof that the imported products are produced under
sanitary conditions in a regulated establishment is required. This
documentation must be submitted to SFA if you import the following food products:
| S/No. |
Types of products |
| 1 |
Packaged mineral and drinking water and ice
|
| 2 |
Coconut milk and grated coconut, and nasi lemak
|
| 3 |
Infant cereals and infant formulas (Please refer to the Calculation
guide for Infant formula to conduct self checking on the compliance of the
nutritional composition of infant formulas)
|
| 4 |
Land snails
|
| 5 |
Minimally processed fruits and vegetables
|
| 6 |
Pasteurised liquid milk
|
| 7 |
Traditional cakes (kueh kueh)
|
| 8 |
Cut sugarcane
|
| 9 |
Mooncakes
|
The following are some examples of regulated source documents that SFA accepts as documentary proof:
- Certificate of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
- Certificate of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)
- Health Certificate issued by competent food or veterinary authority of exporting country or region
- Attestation of export issued by competent food or veterinary authority of exporting country or region
- Factory licence issued by regulatory authority of the exporting country or region
Importers of food products not listed in the table above are advised to maintain similar source
documentation and produce them when requested by SFA.
How to submit documentary proof
| STEP |
DESCRIPTION |
|
1
|
Submit the regulated source documents, either via:
- SFA's online feedback form under category: ‘Licensing – Food Trade’ à sub-category: ‘TradeNet application document submission’. Please include UEN and licence number under the form field “Case Description” or
- TradeNet.
This is a one-time submission, unless there are changes to your sources of
supply.
|
|
2
|
Retain the original regulated source documents for SFA’s inspection as
and when necessary.
|
Enhanced Regulated Source Programme
The Enhanced Regulated Source Programme aims to safeguard the safety of processed food products imported from Malaysia. The categories of products include:
- Infant formula
- Infant cereal
- Traditional cakes/kueh kueh, cooked rice products and other perishable
cooked food*
- Mooncakes
- Dried beancurd sticks, skin and sheets
- Edible oil
*Ready to eat products only. Frozen and/or uncooked products are currently excluded. For
more information, see Examples
of Traditional Cakes (Kueh Kueh), Cooked Rice Products and Other Perishable Cooked
Food.
To import food products covered under this programme, the products must be obtained from Malaysian food manufacturing establishments that have been registered with the Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH).
Before importing the products, please:
- submit the relevant documentary proof; and
- follow procedures during import permit declaration.
How to submit documentary proof
| STEP |
DESCRIPTION |
|
1
|
Prepare softcopies of relevant enhanced regulated source documents for each
premises:
a) the MOH Malaysia registration letter, and
b) invoices from the manufacturing establishment.
|
|
2
|
Indicate your company name and Unique Entity Number in your submission.
|
|
3
|
Email the enhanced regulated source documents via SFA's online feedback form under category: ‘Licensing – Food Trade’ sub-category: ‘TradeNet application document submission’. Please include UEN and licence number under the form field “Case Description”.
This is a one-time submission unless there are changes to your sources of
supply.
|
|
4
|
Receive an establishment code (e.g. MYZNNV0001) for each manufacturer upon
submission of the documentary proof.
|
|
5
|
Retain the original regulated source documents for SFA’s inspection as and
when necessary.
|
What to do at the point of import permit declaration
| STEP |
DESCRIPTION |
|
1
|
Declare the issued establishment code (e.g. MYZNNV0001) of the manufacturer(s)
in the CA/SC Code1 field in TradeNet.
|
|
2
|
Submit documentary proof to SFA online via the TradeNet, in the form of:
a) invoices,
b) packing lists, or
c) manufacturer’s licences.
|
If you require any clarification on the list of Malaysian food manufacturing establishments registered with MOH Malaysia, please contact MOH Malaysia at the contact details provided below.
Export Branch
Food Safety & Quality Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia
(Attn: Ms Norshafawati Binti Rosli)
Tel: +60-03-8885 0797 ext 4074
Email: norshafawati@moh.gov.my
Supplier Registration for Infant Cereal Products (Voluntary Scheme)
From 27 March 2023, importers for infant cereal products who are able to meet the pre-import requirements under the voluntary scheme (Please see Import Requirements of Specific Food Products), may register their supplier with SFA. Importers under the voluntary scheme will be exempted from submission of laboratory reports of Aflatoxin B1 testing for every consignment during import permit application. Instead, they are allowed to maintain their own records of the supplier verification checks for periodic checks by SFA.
Steps to import under the voluntary scheme is as below:
1) Verify that your suppliers* are able to meet the import conditions under voluntary scheme
2) Register your suppliers with SFA
3) Declare registered suppliers when applying for import permit
4) Maintain proper documentations of all supplier verification checks
|
STEP
|
DESCRIPTION
|
|
STEP 1:
|
Verify that suppliers are able to meet the import conditions under the voluntary scheme (Refer to Import Requirements of Specific Food Products)
You may use the template supplier verification checklist to guide you in your supplier verification checks.
|
|
STEP 2:
|
Register your suppliers by submitting your supplier’s details via the registration form. The following information is required for registration of your supplier:
i Supplier’s details (country of origin, establishment name, number, address)
ii List of products imported into Singapore from the supplier (brand, product description, packing size)
iii Supporting documents of supplier verification checks
Upon successful registration, you will receive a unique establishment code (e.g. AUZGxxxx) for each registered supplier from SFA.
|
|
STEP 3:
|
Declare the supplier establishment code (obtained in Step 2) in your cargo clearance permit under the CA/SC Code 1 field in TradeNet, for each import of infant cereal products.
|
|
STEP 4:
|
Maintain documentation records of supplier verification checks (Step 1) which will be subjected to checks by SFA
|
*Supplier can refer to manufacturer/ producer or consolidator. If the supplier is not the manufacturer/ producer of the imported food, the importer should ensure that relevant information is obtained either directly from the manufacturer/ producer or confirmation through the consolidator.
2. Send products to accredited laboratories for analysis
While not mandatory, you are encouraged to initiate quality control checks on the products you
intend to import by sending them to accredited laboratories for analysis.
Please refer to the Singapore Accreditation
Council-Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) website for the list of accredited laboratories.
3. Submit required documents for high-risk products
Some processed food products are classified as high-risk. Additional
documents such as health certificates and laboratory analysis reports, are required for such products when applying for an import permit.
Please see Import Requirements of Specific Food Products for the list of high-risk products and their requirements.
4. Ensure food additives and ingredients are allowed by SFA
Under SFA’s Food Regulations, only certain food additives and ingredients are allowed
in food. Please refer to Conditions related to Food Additives and Ingredients for more
information.
5. Ensure labels are accurate and complete
All pre-packed food products for sale in Singapore should be labelled according to specified
requirements. For more information on food labelling and advertisement, please see Labelling Guidelines for Food Importers and Manufacturers.
Conditions related to Novel Food
Please refer to this webpage for information on Conditions related to Novel Food
Conditions related to Food Additives & Ingredients
Before importing any food or food product, please ensure that all food additives and ingredients included in the product are permitted under SFA’s Food Regulations.
Please refer to the following for more information:
Conditions related to Genetically Modified Crops
Please follow these steps to ensure that conditions are met prior to the import of genetically modified (GM) crops.
- Submit proposal to the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee of Singapore (GMAC)
Genetically Modified (GM) crop developers who wish to import GM crops as food or food ingredients must first submit a proposal to the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee of Singapore (GMAC) for safety evaluation.
Please refer to GMAC’s website for more information on the application process and submission of proposal.
- Food Safety Evaluation by SFA
After GMAC has completed the evaluation and endorsed the application, SFA will consider GMAC’s recommendations and conduct further safety evaluation on the GM crop.
SFA’s evaluation of the food product will be based on Codex’s “Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants”.
Please see the List of approved Genetically Modified Crops for use as food or as food ingredients in Singapore (PDF).
Information on the safety assessment of GM crops in other countries can be found on the FAO GM Foods Platform.