Import, Export & Transshipment of Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Animal
Live poultry, livestock and animal are domestic birds and animals meant for the purpose of slaughter for consumption.
Only licensed traders are allowed to import or export poultry, livestock and live animal. Traders must also meet SFA’s import, export and transshipment requirements.
Live poultry includes domestic fowl or chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, silkies, quails, chukar partridges and pigeons.
Livestock includes sheep, cattle and goats.
Live animal includes frogs, turtles and crustaceans.
Licensing of Traders
Only licensed traders are allowed to import or export live poultry, livestock or live animal.
1. Register the company with ACRA
Your trading company or business must be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) before conducting business in Singapore.
ACRA issues a Unique Entity Number (UEN) to all Singapore-registered companies.
2. Register and activate UEN with Singapore Customs
Companies must register and activate their UEN with Singapore Customs if they intend to import, transship and export food products.
3. Open and maintain a GIRO account
| Type |
How to Set Up a GIRO Account |
Time Needed |
| DBS/POSB iBanking Customers |
If you have an Internet banking account with DBS/POSB, you can submit the application online directly to the bank by accessing your DBS or POSB internet banking websites.
|
Your GIRO application will take an average of 5 working days to process.
SFA will notify you when it has been approved. |
| Non-DBS/POSB iBanking Customers |
You can download and complete the GIRO application form (Part I only) and send to SFA for processing. Please download the example of a completed GIRO application form to guide you on how to complete it. |
Your GIRO application will take an average of 4 - 6 weeks to process.
SFA will notify you when it has been approved.
|
*If you need to change your GIRO account with SFA, you have to re-submit a new GIRO application form. You are also required to maintain the existing GIRO account until the new GIRO account is approved, as your licence may be suspended if you do not have a GIRO account with SFA.
4. Apply for Licence to Import
Apply for the relevant SFA Import Licence online via the GoBusiness Licensing website:
The licence is a one-time registration with SFA and no fee is required.
Importing Live Poultry
Licensed traders who intend to import live poultry into Singapore are required to meet SFA’s import conditions and requirements.
1. Check that your sources are approved by SFA
You can only import live poultry from approved farms in West Malaysia and Indonesia. Please see:
You can only import day old chicks (DOCs) from approved farms in Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and Netherlands. Please see:
As the lists of approved farms are subject to change, please make sure you check the lists before importing live poultry into Singapore.
2. Meet SFA’s veterinary conditions
Ensure that your consignments fulfil SFA’s veterinary conditions:
3. Apply for Customs Clearance Permit/Import Licence
Live Poultry
Apart from obtaining the Licence to Import Poultry, each consignment of live poultry must be accompanied by a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) for import clearance at the port of entry.
The CCP costs S$62 per consignment, and also serves as an SFA import permit. You can obtain a CCP online via TradeNet.
You will need to provide the appropriate HS codes and product codes in your application. For the list of products codes, see Product Codes for TradeNet.
Day Old Chicks (DOCs) and Hatching Eggs
For the import of DOCs and hatching eggs, apply for the following licence instead. Please apply for this licence for each consignment you intend to import.
| Type of licence |
Cost and validity |
| Licence to Import/Export/Transship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics |
- S$87 (normal service, issuance within 2 working days of submission of complete documents)
- S$174 (express service, issuance within 1 working day of submission of complete documents)
- Valid for 30 days from date of issuance
- Each licence is valid for 1 consignment only
|
4. Obtain veterinary health certificate
Each imported consignment must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by the relevant veterinary authority of the exporting country/region. The certificate must be issued no more than 7 days prior to import.
5. Make an appointment for border control inspection
All live poultry imports have to undergo inspection at the port of entry upon arrival in Singapore.
Contact Animal & Veterinary Services' (AVS) Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) office 5 days before arrival of the consignment to notify them of the planned date of arrival.
6. Inspection upon arrival in Singapore
At the port of entry in Singapore, the CCP and Veterinary Health Certificate will be examined by an AVS Officer. Your consignments will be released if the documents are in order and the poultry are healthy.
Importing Livestock
Licensed traders who intend to import livestock into Singapore are required to meet SFA’s import conditions and requirements.
1. Check that your sources are approved by SFA
You can only import livestock from approved countries/regions, including:
- Australia
- Canada
- France
- Ireland
- Japan
- New Zealand
- USA
As the lists of approved farms are subject to changes, please make sure you check the lists before importing livestock into Singapore.
2. Meet SFA’s veterinary conditions
Ensure that your livestock consignments fulfil SFA’s Veterinary Conditions for the Importation of Livestock.
3. Apply for a Special Slaughter Permit
Obtain a Special Slaughter Permit from SFA for each consignment of livestock you import.
| Type of licence |
Cost and validity |
| Special Slaughter Permit (sheep/goat only) |
- S$25 per Permit issued and S$5 per animal
- Valid only on the specified date of slaughter
|
For application, please fill in the form here. We will contact you in 3 working days once your application has been received.
Please submit your application at least one month in advance.
You can also contact SFA at (65) 6805 2716 or email kim_ngiam@sfa.gov.sg to follow up on your application.
4. Apply for SFA import licence
Apply for a Licence to Import Sheeps & Goats for each consignment of livestock you intend to import. The licence is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
For the Licence to Import Pigs, you may download and complete the application form here.
5. Obtain veterinary health certificate
Each imported consignment must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by the relevant veterinary authority of the exporting country/region. The certificate must be dated no more than 7 days prior to import.
6. Make an appointment for border control inspection
All livestock imports have to undergo inspection at the port of entry upon arrival in Singapore.
Contact SFA Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) office 5 days before arrival of the consignment to notify them of the planned date of arrival.
7. Obtain a master’s/captain’s declaration
Each consignment of livestock must be accompanied by a signed declaration from the master of the ship or the captain of the aircraft.
8. Inspection upon arrival in Singapore
On arrival at the port of entry in Singapore, the animals and documents (i.e. SFA import licence, Veterinary Health Certificate and Captain’s Declaration) will be examined by an AVS Officer.
If documents are in order and the animals are healthy, the livestock will be released and you can take the animals straight to the approved holding and slaughter premises.
Exporting Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Food Animal
Licensed traders who intend to export live poultry, livestock or live food animal from Singapore are required to fulfil SFA’s export requirements, as well as the import requirements of the country of destination.
1. Check the import requirements of your country of destination
Find out the import requirements of your country of destination. importing countries may require the following.
- registration of your establishment/farm. This may involve filing registration form and site inspection by the importing country Authority
- relevant vaccination and testing of the animal prior to export
- inspection by the Authority (i.e. SFA) prior to export
- Veterinary Health Certificate to be issued by the exporting country (i.e. Singapore) and application of an import entry permit by their importer before allowing entry of live poultry or livestock from Singapore into their countries
2. Apply for SFA Export Licence
Apply from the Food Trade Department under the Licensing & Permits Division for an SFA Export Licence online via the GoBusiness Licensing website within 30 days of exporting. Note that the licence is only valid for 30 days from date of issue.
| Type of licence |
Cost and validity |
| Licence to Import/Export/Transship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics |
- S$87 (normal service, issuance within 2 working days of submission of complete documents)
-
S$174 (express service, issuance within 1 working day of submission of complete documents)
-
Valid for 30 days from date of issuance
-
Each licence is valid for 1 consignment only
|
3. Apply for a Veterinary Health Certificate for each Export Consignment
This step only applies if your country of destination requires a Veterinary Health Certificate.
Apply from the Export Inspection and Certification Department under the Licensing & Permits Division for an SFA Veterinary Certificate online via the GoBusiness Licensing website.
For each export consignment of livestock, the exporter/farm has to submit a signed declaration issued by the veterinarian (employed or engaged by the farm) on details of vaccination and health status of the livestock/live animal.
4. Apply for Custom Clearance Permit
Before exporting each consignment, you will also need to obtain a Customs Clearance Permit (CCP) online via TradeNet. This permit is for export clearance at the border control checkpoints.
You will need to provide the appropriate HS codes and product codes in your application. For the list of products codes, see Product Codes for TradeNet.
5. Make an appointment for inspection by SFA (when required)
Livestock or live food animal exports may have to undergo inspection at the premises in Singapore where the livestock/animal are kept prior to export. You may email Export Inspection and Certification Department at the following addresses to find out if inspection is required,
For consignments that require inspection by SFA, you may email SFA at the same addresses above at least 3 working days before departure of the consignment to make an appointment for inspection.
6. Issuance of Veterinary Health Certificates
SFA will issue the certificate within 3 working days when the submitted documents related to the export consignment are in order and the consignment comply with the requirements of importing country.
Transshipping Live Poultry & Livestock
Transshipping means travelling between countries and transiting via Singapore for a period of less than 24 hours.
Traders intending to transship live poultry and livestock via Singapore will require an SFA Transshipment Licence.
Please note that live poultry from bird-flu affected countries are not allowed to transit via Singapore, and only livestock from approved countries are allowed to transit via Singapore.
Apply for SFA Transshipment Licence
Prepare the following documents in softcopy:
- valid Veterinary Health Certificate, and
- import permit from the importing country (if required by your country of destination).
Apply via the GoBusiness Licensing website and upload the prepared documents.
Transshipped live poultry and livestock may be subject to inspection by SFA.
Contact Animal & Veterinary Services' Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) office 5 days before arrival of the consignment to notify them of the planned date of arrival.
Animal Feed for Livestock
SFA regulates the import, manufacturing, processing and sale of animal feed for food producing animals in Singapore. This include livestock feed and aquaculture feed.
Livestock feed is for goats, pigs, cows, sheep and poultry (e.g. ducks and chickens). Feed components include whole or processed feed, premixes, fish meal, raw ingredients of animal feed and additives.
Aquaculture feed is for aquatic animals such as food fish and crustaceans.
Please see the List of approved Genetically Modified Crops for use as animal feed in Singapore
Bringing in Livestock Feed & Aquaculture Feed
Every consignment of animal feed must be accompanied by a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP), which also serves as an SFA import permit.
Follow the steps below to obtain a CCP.
| Step |
Description |
| Step 1: |
Log in to Tradenet and declare the items intended for import under the appropriate HS and Product Codes.
If you do not have access to Tradenet, you can appoint a declaring agent to make the declaration on your behalf.
|
| Step 2: |
Attach supporting documents (e.g. health certificate, manufacturer's declaration, ingredient list, invoices, bill of lading/airway bill) to your declaration.
Your TradeNet declaration will be routed to SFA for processing.
Submit TradeNet applications and all supporting documents before:
- 5:30pm from Monday to Thursday
- 5:00pm on Friday
This is to facilitate processing within the same day. Any applications made during Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday will be processed on the next working day.
|
| Step 3: |
Check the status of your declaration in TradeNet
Pay the permit fee of S$22 (if applicable):
- The fee will be deducted via GIRO for applicants who hold a GIRO account with SFA.
- For applicants without a GIRO account with SFA, pay the permit fee by NETS, CashCard or cheque at the SFA office before declaration approval.
For more information on these payment modes, see:
- GIRO
- Counter Payment
|
| Step 4: |
Print the generated Cargo Clearance Permit.
|
Local Manufacturing & Processing of Animal Feed
All local commercial producers of animal feed for food producing animals must get a SFA’s issued licence before they can manufacture and process animal feed. This include livestock feed and aquaculture feed.
SFA does not license storage or warehousing of animal feed.
Applying for Animal Feed Licence
Please log in to GoBusiness Licensing Website to apply for an Animal Feed Licence for food producing animals. An active CorpPass will be required to facilitate the application.
It takes an estimated 25 working days to process an application that is complete and in order.
The fee payable for an Animal Feed Licence is S$240 per year.
Click here for more information on the application for an Animal Feed Licence.
Labelling Requirements for Animal Feed
Animal feed sold in Singapore must be packaged and labelled in English with the following information:
- Name and address of the manufacturer;
- List of ingredients used in the animal feed;
- The date of manufacture and expiry date; and
- Its guaranteed analysis in complete and balanced diet (must meet internationally recommended nutritional standards).
SFA inspection regime for existing Licensee
Licence holders will be contacted for an inspection 3 to 6 months before the licence expiry.
Licensing Conditions
Click here for more information on the Licensing Conditions for an Animal Feed Licence.
Free Sale Certificate (Animal Feed)
The Free Sale Certificate (Animal Feed) is a form of SFA endorsement for animal feed products intended for export, including livestock feed and aquaculture feed.
Apply for the Free Sale Certificate (Animal Feed) online via the GoBusiness Licensing website. Please note that you are required to log in and locate the specific certificate application.
The Free Sale Certificate (Animal Feed) costs S$21.39 (inclusive of 9% GST) per certificate and takes 3 working days to process.