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Food Import

Updated: Nov 2, 2023



Food Import | Bestar


Commercial Food Imports


General Information


All commercial food imports that enter Singapore must come from accredited food establishments in approved countries. In addition, only traders who are licensed or registered with SFA can bring in commercial shipments of food.


Requirements and procedures for importing food into Singapore


1. Check what your food product is classified as


SFA classifies food and food products into different categories. Specific conditions and requirements apply to each of these categories.


Food businesses and traders should refer below to determine what the food to be imported is classified as and the corresponding requirements to follow.


If your product does not fall under any of these categories, please refer to the Conditions related to Novel Food below.


Food Group


Meat


Whole carcasses or parts of any animal or bird.


These can be chilled, frozen, processed or in canned form. These include products that contain more than 5% meat content, and include animal oil and fat.


Some examples of processed meat products include: beef rendang, pizza, bak kwa.



Fish


Any of the following varieties of marine, brackish water or fresh water:

  • fishes

  • crustacean (e.g. crabs, lobsters, prawns, etc)

  • molluscs (e.g. squids, octopus, cuttlefish, etc)

  • marine sponges

  • trepang or marine invertebrates (e.g. sea cucumber)

  • any other form of aquatic life including their young and eggs

These can be live, chilled, frozen, processed or in canned form.


Excluded: Ornamental varieties of fishes



Fresh Fruits and Vegetables


Raw and unprocessed fruits and vegetables.

Some examples include raw (fresh) ginseng, fresh durians.

Excluded: Fruits and vegetables which have undergone some processing such as cutting, peeling, canning and freezing. These are regulated as processed food.



Fresh Eggs


Table eggs



Processed Eggs

  • salted and preserved eggs

  • liquid and powdered egg

  • cooked eggs (e.g. hard-boiled eggs and omelette)


Processed Food


All food products and supplements of food nature that are not grouped as meat products, fish products or fresh fruits and fresh vegetables.


Some examples include:

  • mineral water

  • wine

  • infant formula

  • milk and milk products such as cheese, milk powder and yoghurt

  • biscuits

  • cooking oil

  • beverages

  • nuts


Food-Health Products


Food-health products taken as:

  • part of a daily diet, or

  • supplementation to a diet, with no defined dosage.

Please see the section on Food-Health Products for more information.


2. Apply for a trader's licence or register with SFA


You have to apply for a trader’s licence or register with SFA before importing food into Singapore. Only companies registered with ACRA can do so.


Type of Food to be imported and the relevant Licence / Registration Name


Meat and fish

Fee: S$84 per annum

Normal Service: 1 working day to process

Express Service: Same day processing. Pay an additional fee equal to the cost of your licence


Fresh fruit and vegetables

Fee: S$378 per annum

Normal Service: 1 working day to process

Express Service: Same day processing. Pay an additional fee equal to the cost of your licence


Fresh eggs

Fee: Free

5 working days to process


Processed eggs / Processed food

Fee: Free

1 working day to process.


Setting up a GIRO Account


Food traders with the following licences also need to maintain a GIRO account with SFA for the payment of licence renewal fees and permit fees.

  • Licence for Import/Export/Transshipment of Meat and Fish Products

  • Licence for Import/Transshipment of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

  • Licence to Import Table Eggs

3. Satisfy SFA's labelling requirements


If you intend to import pre-packed food for commercial purposes, you should follow SFA’s rules on food labelling and advertisements.

Food traders should ensure that their pre-packed food are labelled correctly before importing, advertising, manufacturing, selling, consigning or delivering the products.

For more information on food labelling, please refer to the section on Labelling Guidelines for Food Importers & Manufacturers.


4. Meet SFA's conditions for specific types of food


Different conditions and requirements apply to specific types of food. The conditions would depend on the type of food, source country or region, etc. For example, meat and meat products can only be imported from accredited overseas establishments.


Conditions for Specific Types of Food


Traders who wish to import food into Singapore must ensure that their products meet SFA’s conditions.


Some of these conditions include importing from approved food sources, obtaining health certificates, providing the required food labels, etc.

The conditions will depend on the specific types of food & food products, namely:

  • Meat & Meat Products

  • Eggs & Egg Products

  • Fish & Fish Products

  • Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

  • Processed Food & Food Appliances

  • Novel Food

Before you bring in any food or food product, you must also ensure that all additives and ingredients present in the food are SFA-approved. See section on Food Additives & Ingredients for more information.

While Genetically Modified Crops are not a food category per se, conditions also apply to the import of such products. See section on Genetically Modified Crops below for more information.


Conditions to Import Meat & Meat Products


1. Import from approved sources

You can only import meat and meat products from SFA-approved sources.

2. Meet all veterinary conditions

Only meat and meat products that are able to meet SFA's veterinary conditions are allowed for import. Refer to the documents below for details:

Veterinary conditions for the importation of beef and beef products Veterinary conditions for the importation of pork and pork products Veterinary conditions for the importation of poultry and poultry product


3. Obtain a health certificate


Each consignment you import must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. 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 particulars:

  • description of the meat product;

  • the country of origin of the meat product;

  • the brand name of the meat product, if any;

  • the name and designation number of the processing establishment, if applicable;

  • the 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;

  • the name and designation number of the establishment in which, and the date on which, the meat product was packed;

  • the batch number and, where the meat product is canned, the canning code; and

  • the net weight of meat product as contained in each basic packaging and outer carton.

Conditions to Import Eggs & Egg Products


Fresh eggs

1. Import from approved sources

You can only import fresh eggs from SFA-approved layer farms in these countries:

  • Australia (includes free-range eggs)

  • Denmark (includes free-range eggs)

  • Finland

  • Japan

  • Malaysia, West (Chicken Eggs)

  • Malaysia, West (Quail Eggs)

  • Netherlands

  • New Zealand (includes free-range eggs)

  • Poland

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • Korea

  • Thailand

  • Ukraine

  • USA

Each consignment of fresh eggs must be derived from a single farm.

2. Meet all veterinary conditions

Your imported eggs must comply with all the conditions stated in the relevant Veterinary Conditions documents:

  • Veterinary conditions for importation of table eggs

  • Veterinary conditions for the importation of pasteurised shell eggs

3. Obtain a veterinary health certificate

Each consignment you import must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by the relevant veterinary authority of the exporting country. The certificate must be dated within 7 days of import.

Processed eggs

1. Import from approved sources

You can only import processed eggs from SFA-approved sources. 2. Meet all veterinary conditions

Only egg products that able to meet SFA's veterinary conditions are allowed for import.

Veterinary conditions for the importation of egg products


3. Obtain a health certificate


Each consignment you import must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. 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 to:

  • 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).


How Bestar can Help


Bestar can help you obtain a Food Import Licence in Singapore in the following ways:

  • Provide guidance and assistance throughout the application process. Bestar has a team of experienced professionals who can guide you through the process of applying for a Food Import Licence in Singapore. We can help you understand the requirements, prepare the necessary documentation, and submit your application.

  • Review your application and ensure that it meets all of the requirements. Bestar can review your application for a Food Import Licence in Singapore to ensure that it is complete and accurate. We can also provide you with feedback on your application and help you to make any necessary changes.

  • Liaise with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on your behalf. Bestar can liaise with the SFA on your behalf throughout the application process. We can answer any questions that you have and help to resolve any issues that may arise.


Here are some of the benefits of working with Bestar to obtain a Food Import Licence in Singapore:

  • Experience and expertise. Bestar has a team of experienced professionals who are experts in the field of food import licensing. We can help you to avoid common mistakes and ensure that your application is successful.

  • Efficiency and convenience. Bestar can handle the entire application process on your behalf, saving you time and hassle.

  • Peace of mind. Bestar can give you peace of mind knowing that your application is in good hands. We will work diligently to ensure that your application is successful and that you obtain your Food Import Licence in Singapore as quickly as possible.

If you are interested in obtaining a Food Import Licence in Singapore, contact Bestar for more information.



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