Food FAQs

 Food FAQs

A. Food Additives

  1. Am I allowed to use artificial flavouring substances?
  2. What is the maximum permissible level for the use of artificial flavouring substances in food in the following countries: Korea and Indonesia?
  3. What is GRAS?
  4. What are the requirements for applying for GRAS status for my additive product?
  5. What are the permitted colouring agents in Japan?

B. Packaging and labeling

  1. What are the food packaging and labelling regulations for Malaysia?
  2. What are the labelling regulations for Vietnam?
  3. What are the food package labelling regulations for the United Kingdom (UK)?
  4. What are the labelling regulations for Thailand?
  5. What are the packaging requirements for exporting frozen otak to Australia?
  6. What are the food labelling regulations for Indonesia?
  7. What are the regulations regarding the language on labelling of food for export to Armenia?
  8. What are the food packaging and labelling regulations for Indonesia?

C. Testing

  1. Which laboratories are able to provide testing services for food products and how do I know the test results are reliable?

D. Certification

  1. How do I apply for health certification for food products of animal origin?
  2. How do I apply for health certification for food products of non-animal origin?
  3. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting food to Papua New Guinea?
  4. What certification is required for exporting food products to Hong Kong?
  5. What certification is required for exporting food products to Pakistan?
  6. What certification is required for exporting products to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries?
  7. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting food to other countries?

E. Standards and Regulation

  1. Which food standards or regulations apply when exporting food to Dubai?
  2. Are there any standards on the maximum level of radiation allowed in food?

F. Product Category

  1. What are the regulations for exporting food products of animal origin?
  2. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting meat, poultry and egg products to the United States?
  3. What certification is required for exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Indonesia?
  4. How do I obtain European Union (EU) certification for the export of seafood products from Singapore?
  5. What are the requirements for importing tea to the United States of America (USA)?
  6. What are the documentation and certification requirements for exporting fish balls and fish cakes to the Philippines?
  7. I wish to export frozen confectionery to Hong Kong. Do I need approval for the source of manufacture?
  8. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting processed meat and seafood to Korea?
  9. What are the certification requirements for exporting frozen otak to Australia?
  10. What are the requirements for exporting flower tea and fruit tea to Japan?
  11. What are the licensing or certification requirements for the export of seafood to Europe?
  12. What are the licensing or certification requirements for the export of roasted coffee beans to Japan?
  13. How do I go about exporting sauces to Indonesia?
  14. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting herbal and dried teas to Australia?
  15. What are the requirements for exporting chocolates to China?
  16. What certification is required for exporting canned abalone to Malaysia?
  17. Is bottled bird’s nest drink categorised as food under China’s food regulations? What requirements are there for exporting bottled bird’s nest drink to China?
  18. What additional requirements are there for exporting low-acid canned food to the USA?

G. Claims

  1. What are nutrient comparative claims in the United States?
  2. What are nutrient function claims in the United States?
  3. Are there any food regulations regarding health and nutrient claims in the United Arab Emirates?

H. Others

  1. What are the differences between irradiated products and radiation-contaminated products?


A. Food Additives

1. Am I allowed to use artificial flavouring substances?

Yes, but use of such substances is subject to certain limits, which differ from country to country.

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2. What is the maximum permissible level for the use of artificial flavouring substances in food in the following countries: Korea and Indonesia?


You can find this information on the following websites :

Korea : Korean Food Additives Code

Indonesia : Regulation No. 722/MENKES/PER/IX/88 on Food Additives

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3. What is GRAS?


GRAS refers to the Generally Regarded As Safe classification.

Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) is a United States of America Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designation that a chemical or substance added to food is considered safe by experts.

It is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) food additive tolerance requirements.

For more information on the GRAS classification, please refer to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website :

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4. What are the requirements for applying for GRAS status for my additive product?


If your product contains ingredients already classified as GRAS by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you will not need to obtain GRAS certification.

A list of GRAS-certified ingredients is available in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, under sections 172, 173 and 182-186.

The FDA runs a GRAS notification programme, through which manufacturers notify the FDA of a claim that the use of a substance is GRAS. Full details of the GRAS notification programme are available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.

You are required to support your claims on the ingredients used in your product. Information required includes :

  • reports on the investigation or history of consumption of the substance by consumers
  • discussions or citations that you have used to establish safety, which could include
    - scientific data
    - information
    - methods, or
    - principles

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5. What are the permitted colouring agents in Japan?


You can find out more about which food additives are permitted in Japan, as well as specified maximum limits for additives in certain food products, from the following resources :

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B. Packaging and labeling



6. What are the food packaging and labelling regulations for Malaysia?


Food packaging and labelling regulations for Malaysia are detailed in Malaysia’s Food Regulations 1985, in particular Parts IV and VI.

You can find these regulations on the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia website.

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7. What are the labelling regulations for Vietnam?


All labels should appear in Vietnamese - foreign languages are optional.

Please note that nutrition labelling is optional unless making a nutritional declaration.

You can find summarised labelling regulations for Vietnam on SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF).

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8. What are the food package labelling regulations for the United Kingdom (UK)?


Detailed information on food package labelling regulations for the United Kingdom may be found on the following websites :
SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF) also provides a useful summary of food labelling requirements for the UK.

Stick-on labels may be used to supply labelling information, as long as they meet UK label requirements and you have applied in the UK before retail, or successfully applied to do so prior to export.

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9. What are the labelling regulations for Thailand?


All labels must appear in Thai. Please note that nutrition labelling is optional unless you are making a specific nutritional claim.

You can find summarised labelling regulations for Thailand on SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF).

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10. What are the packaging requirements for exporting frozen otak to Australia?


Details of the packaging requirements, including labeling for exporting food to Australia, can be found in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

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11. What are the food labelling regulations for Indonesia?


SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF) has a useful summary of import requirements of Indonesia.

The actual regulation on Food labeling and Advertisement “Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No 69 year 1999 regarding Food Labelling and Advertisement” is available from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (NA-DFC) of Indonesia website (in English).

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12. What are the regulations regarding the language on labelling of food for export to Armenia?


Labelling for food exports to Armenia must be in Armenian. However, the Armenian information can appear on a separately attached label or sticker rather than printed directly onto the food packaging if desired.

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13. What are the food packaging and labelling regulations for Indonesia?


You can find summarised labelling requirements for Indonesia on SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF).

You can also refer to Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 28/2004 on Food Safety, Quality and Nutrition (PDF) available from Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control website.

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C. Testing



14. Which laboratories are able to provide testing services for food products and how do I know the test results are reliable?


You should get the tests done at accredited laboratories. You can find the list of laboratories on the Singapore Accreditation of Singapore website.

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D. Certification



15. How do I apply for health certification for food products of animal origin?


For health certification of food products of animal origin, samples of your product must be tested by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore’s (AVA) Veterinary Public Health Laboratory.

Once you have submitted your application for health certification, AVA’s inspection services officers will make an appointment for on-site inspection and sample collection. Samples will then be tested at AVA’s Veterinary Public Health Laboratory.

Testing takes 12 working days. Health certificates will only be issued when the results of inspection and/or laboratory testing are satisfactory.

Please refer to the AVA website for more details.

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16. How do I apply for health certification for food products of non-animal origin?


For health certification of products of non-animal origin, samples of your product will be taken randomly by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) upon your submission of the health certification application.

They will then be sent to designated laboratories for required tests. Health certificates will be issued to you by AVA within 3 days of receiving reports from the laboratory the samples are sent to.

The export certificate can be obtained from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) website.

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17. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting food to Papua New Guinea?


You will require documentation such as :
  • an export certificate
  • evidence of chemical and bacteriological quality of the product
  • certificate of origin, if applicable
  • other documents, like an import license, which is required by Customs
The export certificate can be obtained from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) website.

Please also see the following for general information on :

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18. What certification is required for exporting food products to Hong Kong?


Detailed guidelines and certificatory requirements for importing food into Hong Kong can be found on Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety website.

You must also comply with product labelling and additives requirements.

Imported food should also be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the relevant health authority of the country of origin. You can apply for the certificate online from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) website.

SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database has a useful summary of import requirements for Hong Kong (PDF) that you may find useful.

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19. What certification is required for exporting food products to Pakistan?


Pakistan generally applies Codex standards and guidelines in its regulation of imported products. You can find these standards on the Codex website.

Other requirements to take note of include :

  • contents of your product must be free from pork and pork products. You may want to verify with your importer if a halal certificate is required by them
  • food consignments must be accompanied by a certificate of origin, which is available from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) website
You may also find Pakistani customs information useful : http://www.cbr.gov.pk/newcu/overview.htm

For more information regarding import of restricted goods and requirements or conditions of importing to Pakistan, you may refer to the Import Policy Order 2006.

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20. What certification is required for exporting products to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries?


SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database provides useful summaries of the required certification for exporting food products to various Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries :
Please note that products exported from Singapore to GCC must be Halal-certified by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

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21. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting food to other countries?


Import regulations for food products to 30 countries can be found on SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database.

If you require more specific or detailed information, please contact SPRING at etac@spring.gov.sg or via their hotline at (65) 6279 3807.

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E. Standards and Regulation



22. Which food standards or regulations apply when exporting food to Dubai?


The regulations for food exports to Dubai can be found in SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF).

You may also find the information in “Requirements for Imported Foodstuff” or “Food Additives”, which are publications from the Dubai Municipality Food Control Section website

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23. Are there any standards on the maximum level of radiation allowed in food?


Standards on the maximum level of radiation allowed in food vary greatly between countries.

For example, the limit according to Thailand’s regulation is 6 Bq/kg of food, whereas in China the limit for fruits and vegetables is 2.1 x 102 Bq/kg. According to Indonesia’s Food Act 1996, the levels in fresh or processed fruits and vegetables for Cs137 must not be greater than 300 Bq/kg.

For limits imposed by the European Union, please refer to the Summaries of Legislation section on the Europa website.

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F. Product Category



24. What are the regulations for exporting food products of animal origin?


You can find a summary of the regulations for the export of food products, including those of animal origin, to various countries in SPRING Singapore’s ETAC Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database.

Alternatively, you may write to etac@spring.gov.sg for more details.

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25. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting meat, poultry and egg products to the United States?


Meat, poultry and egg products to be exported to the US need to be from a country that is eligible to do so.

Currently, Singapore is not eligible.

You can check which countries are on the eligible list from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website.

Specific certification requirements for importing meat, poultry and egg products into the US can also be found on the FSIS website

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26. What certification is required for exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Indonesia?


The main certification requirements for exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Indonesia are as follows :

a) the plant phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin/transit

b) an importation plan that includes the :
  • amount
  • type of fruit/vegetable
  • brand
  • type of packaging
  • type of transportation
  • container information
  • country of origin
  • entrance port
  • transit location
c) An irradiation compliance certificate for certain products where there is the possible use of irradiated raw materials. The certificate should state that the product is not contaminated by radiation greater than the indicated limits. This certificate is to be issued by the relevant authority in the country of origin or exporting country.

You can obtain more information on these requirements from Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control.

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27. How do I obtain European Union (EU) certification for the export of seafood products from Singapore?


Certification requirements for the export of seafood products from Singapore to EU countries can be found in SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database.

Please also refer to following published by the EU :
Please note that foreign establishments must be approved by the EU before exporting their products.

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28. What are the requirements for importing tea to the United States of America (USA)?


SPRING Singapore offers a useful summary of food import regulations for the USA on its Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF).

You can also find full details on US food labelling requirements in the US Code of Federal Regulations Part 101.

Your facility i.e. manufacturing, processing, packaging or storage locations, must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If your facilities are not located in the same place, or if the same product is manufactured in more than one location, each facility/location would need to be individually registered.

A US agent will need to be designated and will be the communication link between the FDA and your company in the event of any incidents.

Before shipment to the USA, Prior Notice must be filed with the FDA.

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29. What are the documentation and certification requirements for exporting fish balls and fish cakes to the Philippines?


You will first need to register your products with the Philippines’ Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD). This may only be carried out by a Filipino entity - your Philippines importer will be able to assist you with this.

Typical requirements for registration with the BFAD include :
  1. Letter of application for registration from importer/distributor
  2. An accomplished Affidavit of Undertaking, typewritten and notarised
  3. An accomplished product list by product classification
  4. The valid "Licence to Operate" with supplier's source(s) of imported food products
  5. Copy of the sales invoice
  6. One sample of each product in commercial presentation and a copy of the label which conforms to Codex Labelling requirements and BFAD requirements.
  7. Registration fee
You will also need to provide the importer with a certificate of status of manufacture that is issued by the relevant health authority of the country of manufacture, which should also be authenticated by the Philippines Consulate. You can obtain this certificate from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

Other than the documentation mentioned above, your products must also comply with labelling and additive guidelines.

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30. I wish to export frozen confectionery to Hong Kong. Do I need approval for the source of manufacture?


Yes, the frozen confectionery plant must be approved by the Hong Kong authorities. You will need to apply to the Assistant Director (Food Surveillance and Control) of Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for this approval.

You will also require an export certificate from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

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31. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting processed meat and seafood to Korea?


Most of the Korean food regulations are available only in Korean. However, you can find a useful summary of these regulations on SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database.

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32. What are the certification requirements for exporting frozen otak to Australia?


To export frozen otak to Australia, you will require the following licences and permits:

Licence for the import/export/transshipment of meat/meat products/fish products
Export Permit
Food (Export) Certificate (commonly known as Health Certificate)

These licenses and permits are issued by the AVA. For more information please visit the AVA website.

You will also have to identify an Australian importer, who will need to apply for an import permit from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

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33. What are the requirements for exporting flower tea and fruit tea to Japan?


The commercial importation of tea into Japan is subject to the Food Sanitation Law and requires an import notification.

The importer must submit an Application for Import Inspection of Plants and Import-Prohibited Articles together with a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the AVA.

Note that :
  • Plants can only be imported at certain designated ports of entry.
  • Dried fruits and processed tea leaves meeting certain conditions may be exempted from quarantine.
  • Herb teas containing ingredients approved only for use as pharmaceuticals are subject to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.
  • Tea imports must also conform to regulations on agricultural chemical usage. You can find details on agricultural chemical limits at the Japanese Food Chemical Research Foundation.
Labelling

Packaged teas should be labelled according to Food Sanitation Law regulations which establishes quality labelling standards for consumer food and beverage products. Labelling for nutritional ingredients and calories should comply with Health Promotion Law requirements.

SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF) provides a summary of requirements for food imports into Japan which you may find useful.

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34. What are the licensing or certification requirements for the export of seafood to Europe?


To export Products of Animal Origin (POAO) into the European Union (EU), they must originate in a third country that has been approved to export such products into the EU. The food manufacturing establishment should also be approved by the EU Food Standards Agency.

Singapore is currently an approved third country for supplying food to the EU. To obtain approval for your establishment, you can submit your request to the AVA. The AVA will assess the establishment based on EU Regulations, and make their recommendations to the European Commission. Please contact the AVA to find out more.

Imported food can only enter the EU through specific ports with a Border Inspection Post (BIP). A list of BIPs can be found at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Note that the EU importer needs to pre-notify the BIP before the arrival of the shipment. An original health certificate from the AVA must be submitted upon arrival.

The products and establishment must also comply with hygiene, safety and labelling requirements, details of which can be found in the following websites :

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35. What are the licensing or certification requirements for the export of roasted coffee beans to Japan?


General guidelines on import procedures are also available from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) website.

Japan prohibits food that contains agricultural chemicals above a maximum residue limit (MRL). You can find out more about these limits for coffee from the following websites :
For agricultural chemicals without established MRLs, the MHLW has set a uniform limit of 0.01ppm.

Note that labelling must be in Japanese, and the text should be at least font size 8. For links to useful information about exporting food to Japan, consult SPRING Singapore’s Food Import Regulations & Standards (FIRS) Database (PDF).

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36. How do I go about exporting sauces to Indonesia?


A registration approval letter from the Indonesian authorities is needed in order to export any processed food to Indonesia.

You can find full details on the registration process, including a list of required supporting documents and instructions on completing the registration forms, on the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (NA-DFC) of Indonesia website (in Bahasa Indonesia).

Contact details for the registration department of the NA-DFC are also available on the website if you have further queries about the registration procedure.

A complete version of the regulations is available on the authority’s website.

You can find a summarised version from the FIRS database (PDF) available on the ETAC website.

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37. What are the licensing or certification requirements for exporting herbal and dried teas to Australia?


The export of herbal and dried teas to Australia may be subject to certain quarantine conditions as outlined in the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Import Conditions Database.

An Import Permit from AQIS may also be needed.

For herbal and dried teas, specific advice on applying for an Import Permit can be found at the AQIS website.

Imported food products must meet the requirements of the Imported Food Control Act 1992. This Act, as well as other information on Australian food legislation, can be found at the AQIS website.

Please also note that your product must meet the standards set by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

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38. What are the requirements for exporting chocolates to China?


Chocolates exported to China must comply with the National Standards for the Labelling of Foods (GB 7718) as well as the Hygiene Standards for Chocolates (GB 9678.2).

The chocolates are also subject to inspection by the Chinese authorities according to Chinese standards. The Chinese authorities will issue a document for customs clearance if the product passes the inspection.

You are required to submit the relevant test reports of your products. Certification of health status by health authorities from the exporting country is only required when there are no relevant Chinese standards for the product. You can find more details at the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China website.

Additionally, the additives in your chocolates must fulfill the requirements of the Hygienic Standards for the Use of Food Additives (GB 2760), which is available at NLB Standards Collection.

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39. What certification is required for exporting canned abalone to Malaysia?


Firstly, you would need to apply for an AVA licence for the import/export of meat/fish products. To do this, your company must first be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and obtain a Central Registration (CR) Number. The CR Number can be obtained from Singapore Customs. You should send or fax a hardcopy of the CR or submit it online through OBLS (Online Business Licensing System) as part of the license application.

Secondly, you will need to apply for an export permit by declaring the export through Tradenet.

You will not require a Health Certificate, as canned abalone is exempted from this requirement under Malaysia Food Regulations.

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40. Is bottled bird’s nest drink categorised as food under China’s food regulations? What requirements are there for exporting bottled bird’s nest drink to China?


Yes. Food products imported into China must satisfy the following requirements :
If you intend to make any health claims for your bird’s nest drink, you will need to satisfy China’s registration and manufacturing requirements for health foods.

You should also confirm the necessary requirements with your China importer, who can assist you with the necessary documentation.

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41. What additional requirements are there for exporting low-acid canned food to the USA?


Establishments that process low-acid canned food for export to the United States must register with the FDA. The registration process involves food canning establishment registration and process filing for all processing methods.

You can find detailed information on this process on the FDA website.

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G. Claims



42. What are nutrient comparative claims in the United States?


Nutrient comparative claims are claims that involve comparison on the amount of nutrients between normal products and “claimed” products which have an addition or reduction in one of the nutrients content e.g. low fat milk, light sodium potato chips.

For all relative claims, percent (or fraction) of change and the identity/name of the reference food must be declared as close as possible to the most prominent claim.

Quantitative comparison of the amount of the nutrient in the product per labeled serving with that in reference food must be declared on the information panel.

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43. What are nutrient function claims in the United States?


Nutrient function claims are statements that describe the effect dietary supplements may have on the structure or function of the body.

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44. Are there any food regulations regarding health and nutrient claims in the United Arab Emirates?


There is no national regulation on health and nutrient claims in the UAE. However, UAE generally follows the Codex regulations in “Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims”.

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H. Others



45. What are the differences between irradiated products and radiation-contaminated products?


Irradiated products are products that have been deliberately exposed to ionising radiation for the purpose of preservation.

Radiation-contaminated products, on the other hand, have been accidentally exposed to radiation by radioactive substances in the natural environment e.g. Chernobyl incident.
Last Modified Date :09 May 2012