Essential Guide to Singapore Factory Notification or Registration: Requirements & Application

Singapore Factory Notification and Registration | Bestar

Singapore Factory Notification and Registration

Essential Guide to Singapore Factory Notification or Registration: Requirements & Application

Starting a factory in Singapore? Navigating the regulatory landscape is crucial. Under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act, your premises, if defined as a factory, must either be notified or registered with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before you begin operations.

This essential guide breaks down the requirements, explains the difference between Notification and Registration, and walks you through the application process for your Singapore factory.

1. Do You Need Factory Notification or Registration?

The first step is determining if your workplace falls under the WSH Act's definition of a "factory". This typically includes manufacturing plants, shipyards, car servicing workshops, and other premises where certain industrial processes are carried out.

If your premises is a "factory," your requirement depends on the risk level of your activities:

Requirement Type	Factory Type	Risk Level	Validity
Notification	Low-risk factories (e.g., printing press, food packaging)	Low	Lifetime (One-time submission)
Registration (Certificate of Registration - CR)	High-risk factories (e.g., shipyards, wafer fabrication, metalworking with ≥ 100 workers, pharmaceutical)	High	Renewable (typically 5 years)
Major Hazard Installation (MHI) Registration	Factories that process, manufacture, or store large quantities of dangerous substances	Very High	Renewable (typically 5 years)

Key Exemptions

Certain premises, even if they fit the general description of a factory, may be exempt from the Notification/Registration requirement, such as:

• Most construction worksites (though they have their own WSH obligations).

  
  

• Very low-risk workplaces with less than 10 employees AND do not use or create mechanical power, steam apparatus, air/gas receivers, or highly flammable/noxious substances.

  
  

2. Requirements for Application (Pre-Operation Checks)

Before you apply for Registration (especially for high-risk activities), you must ensure compliance with mandatory safety and health requirements:

For All Factories (Registration & Notification)

• Risk Management: You must have identified workplace hazards, evaluated risks, and implemented control measures (mandatory under the WSH Act).

  
  

• ACRA Registration: Your business must be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and have a Unique Entity Number (UEN).

  
  

• Medisave Contributions: Sole proprietors or partners must be up-to-date with their MediSave contributions.

  
  

For High-Risk Factories (Certificate of Registration - CR)

• SHMS Audit: You must engage a Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC)-accredited WSH Auditing Organisation to audit your Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) within 2 months of receiving your CR.

  
  

• Process Hazard Analysis (PHA): Required for certain factory types (e.g., pharmaceutical, petrochemical). You may need to submit the PHA document during the application.

  
  

For Major Hazard Installations (MHI Registration)

• MHI Assessment Form: To be submitted during registration.

  
  

• Safety Case: Must be submitted to MOM at least 6 months before starting operations. Failure to do so may lead to the revocation of the CR.

  
  

3. How to Apply for Factory Notification or Registration

The application process is done online through the GoBusiness Licensing Portal.

Step-by-Step Application Process:

1. Log in: Access the GoBusiness portal using your Corppass.

   
   

2. Determine Your Type: Use the MOM self-assessment tool (available on their website) or consult a WSH professional to confirm if you require a one-time Notification, a One-Time Registration, or a Renewable Registration (CR/MHI).

   
   

3. Complete the Application:

   • Fill out the application form with details about your premises, work activities, and occupier information.

     
     

   • Select the appropriate Industry Category.

   • Provide details on Combustible Dust (if applicable) and upload the required form.

     
     

4. Upload Documents: Upload all necessary supporting documents, such as the Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) document for certain high-risk industries, or the MHI assessment form.

   
   

5. Payment (For Registration only): Pay the prescribed fee after receiving the fee notice email (processing times vary by type).

   
   

6. Approval & Certification:

   
   

   • Notification: You will receive an immediate acknowledgement letter.

   • Registration (CR): Once approved (processing time is up to 7 working days for One-Time Registration, or up to 30 working days for Renewable/MHI Registration), you can print your Certificate of Registration.

     
     

Application Fees and Validity:

Requirement Type	Estimated Fee Range (Excluding MHI)	Validity
Factory Notification	None	Lifetime
One-time Factory Registration	$45 to $2,340 (varies by activity/workers)	Lifetime
Renewable Factory Registration	$45 to $2,340 (varies by activity/workers)	5 years
MHI Registration	$4,550 to $12,800	5 years

4. What Happens After Approval?

Operating a factory without the necessary Notification or Registration is an offence under the WSH Act, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.

Once your application is approved:

• For Notification: Print your acknowledgement letter for your records.

  
  

• For Registration (CR): Print your Certificate of Registration.

  
  

• High-Risk CR Only: Ensure the mandatory SHMS audit is conducted and the report is submitted to MOM within 2 months of receiving the CR.

  
  

• Compliance: You must continuously comply with all WSH regulations, maintain your Safety and Health Management System, and notify MOM of any changes in the nature of work, occupier name, or structural changes.

  
  

Expert Partner: How Bestar Singapore Simplifies Your Factory Notification or Registration

Launching a manufacturing or industrial business in Singapore involves navigating stringent compliance requirements, especially the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Factory Notification or Registration (Certificate of Registration - CR).

While the process is clearly defined, the technical complexities—particularly for high-risk operations and Major Hazard Installations (MHIs)—can lead to costly delays and non-compliance penalties.

Bestar Singapore serves as your comprehensive corporate and regulatory partner, ensuring a smooth, fast, and compliant path from company setup to operational readiness.

Key Ways Bestar Simplifies Factory Compliance

Bestar provides a robust, end-to-end solution, covering both the foundational corporate setup and the intricate technical compliance needed for MOM Factory Registration.

1. Foundational Business & Corporate Compliance

Before you can even apply for an MOM factory license, your business must be legally established. Bestar handles these prerequisites:

• ACRA Company Incorporation: We manage the entire process of registering your company with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), securing your Unique Entity Number (UEN)—a non-negotiable requirement for the MOM application.

• Corporate Secretarial Services: We appoint a resident Company Secretary and ensure ongoing compliance with the Companies Act, freeing you to focus on factory planning.

• Immigration & Manpower Planning: We assist with the necessary work pass applications (e.g., Employment Pass) for foreign directors, key personnel, and employees, ensuring your team is legally ready to operate the factory.

2. Factory Type Determination & Strategic Advisory

Misidentifying your factory type is a common and costly mistake. Bestar provides the expertise to accurately determine your exact requirements:

• Risk Classification Assessment: We analyze your industrial processes to determine if you require a simple, one-time Notification (low-risk) or a complex, renewable Certificate of Registration (CR) (high-risk).

• MHI (Major Hazard Installation) Consulting: For factories dealing with large quantities of dangerous substances, we advise on the specific, stringent requirements, including the mandatory submission of the Safety Case at least six months before operations commence.

3. Technical & Safety Documentation Preparation

The most challenging part of high-risk factory registration is creating and submitting the mandatory safety documents. Bestar provides consulting to develop and prepare these critical documents:

• Risk Assessment (RA) & Safety Management System (SMS/SHMS): We guide the development and documentation of a robust Safety and Health Management System (SHMS), which is mandatory under the WSH Act. This system is crucial for securing and maintaining a CR.

• Process Hazard Analysis (PHA): For specific high-risk industries (e.g., pharmaceutical, petrochemical), we assist in developing the PHA documentation required for submission during the CR application.

• Combustible Dust Notification: We help you assess the quantities of combustible dust used or created and accurately complete the mandatory Combustible Dust Form for submission.

4. Streamlined Application and Post-Approval Compliance

Bestar handles the bureaucratic steps, ensuring precision and efficiency in your submission to the MOM via the GoBusiness portal.

• Application Management: We prepare all necessary documentation and submit your application on the GoBusiness portal using Corppass, minimizing errors and rejections.

• Liaison with MOM: We act as the professional intermediary, managing queries and providing additional information requested by the Ministry of Manpower to ensure timely approval.

• Post-Registration Compliance: For high-risk CRs, we advise on the scheduling and selection of an SAC-accredited WSH Auditing Organisation to conduct the SHMS Audit within the required 2 months of receiving the CR.

Why Choose Bestar for Your Factory Registration?

Benefit	Impact on Your Business
Industry Expertise	Access to in-depth knowledge of the WSH Act, WSH (Registration of Factories) Regulations, and specific technical compliance standards (PHA, SHMS).
Time and Cost Efficiency	Avoid delays and costly mistakes from incorrect applications. We streamline the process, allowing you to commence operations faster.
Comprehensive Compliance	We ensure not just MOM compliance, but also integrate it with requirements from other relevant agencies like NEA (environmental), SCDF (fire safety), and SFA (food-related factories).
Focus on Core Operations	Outsourcing the complex regulatory paperwork allows your management team to concentrate fully on setting up production and training.

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Partner with Bestar Singapore to confidently achieve your Factory Notification or Certificate of Registration, knowing your path to operational success is compliant and secure.