With a high proportion of Chinese residents, Singapore's culture and food preferences are largely influenced by Chinese cuisine, making it a favored destination for many Chinese food exporters.

Today, we'll provide a detailed overview of Singapore's food import requirements, including government regulations and the registration process. For those who need this information, feel free to like and save it for future reference!

I Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is responsible for regulating all food-related import and export trade in Singapore. The license issued by SFA is a crucial document for conducting food trade.

Importers must ensure that food imported for sale is safe for consumption and complies with SFA's safety regulations. Only licensed or registered traders can import food for commercial purposes. Imported food is subject to safety inspections, and unsafe or non-compliant food cannot be sold.

Therefore, food importers must apply for a license or registration with SFA to import food into Singapore while adhering to relevant regulations.

II Import Food Classification

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) categorizes food licenses into three main types based on the different types of imported food handled by the business (General Classification of Food & Food Products):

1 Import/Export/Transhipment of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Licence to Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products
This specifically refers to "raw and unprocessed fruits and vegetables," such as fresh durians, apples, and pears. It does not include fruits and vegetables that have been processed, such as being cut, peeled, canned, or frozen. These processed items are regulated under the processed food category.

2 Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products

Licence to Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products
This section is divided into "Meat" and "Fish" products. Let’s first introduce "Meat." "Meat" refers to any whole or part of an animal (that is deceased). These products can be refrigerated, frozen, processed, or canned for preservation, and include meat and animal fat products. "Fish" refers to any fish from saltwater, freshwater, or other aquatic environments, including crustaceans (such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp), mollusks (such as squid, octopus, cuttlefish), marine invertebrates (such as sea cucumbers), and other forms of aquatic animals (such as larvae or eggs). These products may be live, chilled, frozen, processed, or canned, but ornamental fish are excluded.

3 Import/Export/Transhipment of Processed Food and Food Appliances

Registration to Import Processed Food Products and Food Appliances
This section is divided into "Processed Food" and "Food Appliances." Let’s first introduce "Processed Food." "Processed Food" refers to all foods and supplements containing food ingredients that do not fall under the categories of meat products, fish products, fresh fruits, or fresh vegetables as mentioned above. Examples include mineral water, wine, infant formula, milk and other dairy products, biscuits, edible oils, beverages, nuts, and more. "Food appliances" refer to any items that come into contact with food and beverages and can operate without the use of power, such as bowls, cups, plates, frying pans, water bottles, woks, chopsticks, spoons, etc.
For more details and additional information, please visit the official Singapore SFA website:
https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-import-export/commercial-food-imports

III GoBusiness Licensing Application

After determining the types of food your business imports and the required license, the business owner needs to visit another website, GoBusiness Licensing, to apply for the appropriate license. The website URL is:
https://licence1.business.gov.sg/web/frontier/home

Step 1: Log in to the website

Applicants need to use Corp Pass to log in to the GoBusiness Licensing website.

Step 2: Account Selection

Select or create the relevant business account.

Step 3: Apply for the License

Click on the "Licences" option and proceed based on your business's situation to fill in the required details.

Step 4: Payment Method

Make payment through Giro, eNETS, or credit card.

Step 5: Approval Wait

Wait 1-2 working days for processing. Once approved, applicants can log in to obtain the SFA registration number.

Step 6: Obtain License

Access the GoBusiness license page, log in using Corp Pass, and click "My Portfolio."
https://licence1.business.gov.sg/web/frontier/home

Step 7: Print or Update License

Download or print the license. Note the license number and expiration date and update as needed.