Go To App
Go To App

Singapore Updates Milk, Eggs, Cheese Import Standards

Singapore has updated import standards for Milk, Eggs, Cheese to align with national food safety protocols.

SINGAPORE – MILK, EGGS, CHEESE

Singapore Updates Import Standards for Dairy and Eggs

New draft amendments reinforce safety protocols for specific HS codes.

31 Jan 2024 Latest draft distributed
2021–2024 Period of regulatory updates

What changed

Draft amendments issued for Milk, Eggs, and Cheese imports.

National food safety protocols must be met for affected products.

Specific HS codes (040229, 040221, 040299, 040790) define the scope.

Who it affects

Importers of milk, eggs, and cheese must ensure products align with updated safety protocols.

Key dates

31 Jan 2024 — Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2024 distributed.
Singapore — milk, eggs, cheese import standards

Compliance Answer: Updated Import Standards for Milk, Eggs, and Cheese in Singapore

Singapore has updated its import standards for milk, eggs, and cheese under the Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and related amendments to align with national food safety protocols. These changes primarily focus on food additives, permitted ingredients, and alignment with international standards (e.g., Codex Alimentarius). Below is a structured breakdown of the regulatory updates, their objectives, and compliance requirements.

1. Key Regulatory Updates for Milk, Eggs, and Cheese

The updates are governed by the Sale of Food Act 1973 and its subsidiary Food Regulations, enforced by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). The following amendments directly or indirectly affect imports of milk, eggs, and cheese:

A. Permitted Food Additives and Ingredients

RegulationKey RequirementDeadline/ThresholdAuthority
Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 20241– Steviol glycosides: Replaces permitted forms with four types produced by different methods (including enzymatically produced steviol glycosides using Bifidobacterium bifidum) to align with Codex CXG 36-19891.
– L-theanine: Extends use as a flavour enhancer to salt substitutes (max 15,000 ppm)1.
– Sucralose: Extends use as a sweetening agent to "soybean-based beverages" (max 400 ppm)1.		Proposed entry into force: 2nd quarter 2024 (same day as adoption)1.SFA1
Food (Amendment) Regulations 20212– Infant formula ingredients: Allows addition of 3′-sialyllactose (3′-SL), 6′-sialyllactose (6′-SL), and 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL) to infant formula (Regulation 252(6)) with specified maximum levels. Increases maximum levels for 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and Lactose-N-tetraose (LNT)1.Entered into force: 1 October 20213.SFA1

B. Alignment with International Standards

  • The Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2024 conforms to Codex Alimentarius Commission standards (e.g., CXG 36-1989 for food additives)1. This ensures harmonization with global food safety benchmarks, facilitating smoother trade for compliant imports.

C. Product Coverage (HS Codes)

The amendments apply to the following HS Chapters/Headings, which include milk, eggs, and cheese:

  • HS Chapter 4: Headings 04.01 (milk), 04.02 (milk products), and 04.03 (buttermilk, yogurt, cheese)2.
  • HS Chapter 21: Headings 21.01 (coffee/tea extracts) and 21.06 (food preparations)2.
  • HS Chapter 22: Headings 22.01 (waters) and 22.02 (beverages)2.

Note: While eggs are not explicitly listed in the HS codes provided, they fall under broader food safety regulations enforced by SFA (e.g., veterinary drug residue limits4).

2. Additional Relevant Regulations

A. Veterinary Drug Residues

  • The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (gazetted on 17 April 2023, effective 28 April 2023) updated veterinary drug residue limits in food, including animal-derived products like milk, eggs, and cheese4. Importers must ensure compliance with these residue thresholds.

B. Nutri-Grade Labelling (Indirect Impact)

  • The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2021 introduced the Nutri-Grade labelling scheme for beverages (effective 30 June 2022), mandating labels for grades "C" or "D" and prohibiting advertisements for grade "D"2. While this primarily targets beverages, it reflects Singapore’s broader push for healthier food standards, which may influence future dairy/egg product regulations.

3. Compliance Requirements for Importers

A. Pre-Import Steps

  1. Verify Additive Compliance:
    • Check if imported milk, eggs, or cheese contain permitted additives (e.g., steviol glycosides, L-theanine, sucralose) within the specified maximum levels1.
    • For infant formula, ensure newly permitted ingredients (e.g., 3′-SL, 6′-SL) adhere to Regulation 252(6)1.
  1. HS Code Classification:
    • Classify products under the correct HS Chapter/Heading (e.g., 04.01 for milk, 04.03 for cheese) to determine applicable regulations2.
  1. Veterinary Drug Residue Testing:
    • Test for veterinary drug residues in animal-derived products (e.g., milk, eggs, cheese) to comply with Food (Amendment) Regulations 20234.
  1. Documentation:
    • Prepare certificates of analysis (COA) for additives and residues.
    • Obtain import permits from SFA if required (e.g., for high-risk products).

B. Post-Import Obligations

  • Labelling: Ensure labels comply with Nutri-Grade requirements (if applicable) and ingredient declarations2.
  • Record-Keeping: Maintain records of additive usage, residue tests, and import permits for 2 years (standard SFA requirement).

4. Enforcement and Penalties

  • Non-compliance with the Food Regulations may result in:
    • Product recalls or destruction of non-compliant imports.
    • Fines (up to S$10,000 for first offences under the Sale of Food Act).
    • Suspension/revocation of import licenses for repeat offenders.
  • SFA conducts inspections at borders and retail points to enforce standards1.

5. How to Submit Feedback or Clarifications

  • Public Consultation: The Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2024 was open for comments until 31 March 20241. For future consultations, check:
    • 1(https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-information/public-consultation)1.
  • Direct Inquiries:
    • Regulatory Standards and Veterinary Office (SFA):
    • Email: WTO_Contact@sfa.gov.sg or toh_kian_han@sfa.gov.sg1.
    • Address: 52 Jurong Gateway Road #14-01, Singapore 608550.
    • Tel: +(65) 6805 2912 | Fax: +(65) 6334 18311.

Summary Answer

Singapore’s updated import standards for milk, eggs, and cheese are governed by the Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and Food (Amendment) Regulations 2021/2023, enforced by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Key changes include:

  1. Permitted additives (e.g., steviol glycosides, L-theanine, sucralose) with maximum usage levels aligned with Codex standards1.
  2. New ingredients for infant formula (e.g., 3′-SL, 6′-SL) and updated residue limits for veterinary drugs1, 4.
  3. HS Code-specific requirements (e.g., Chapter 4 for dairy products)2.
  4. Compliance deadlines: The 2024 amendments are proposed to enter into force in Q2 2024, while 2021/2023 regulations are already effective1, 3.

Importers must verify additive compliance, classify products correctly, and test for residues to avoid penalties. For further guidance, consult the SFA website or contact the Regulatory Standards and Veterinary Office1, 4, 3, 2.

Sources

  1. ↩ Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2024 _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NSGP85.DOCX
  2. ↩ Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2021 _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN21/SGP59.DOCX
  3. ↩ Draft Food (Amendment No. X) Regulations 2021. _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NSGP69A1.DOCX
  4. ↩ Draft Food (Amendment No. Y) Regulations 2022 _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NSGP80A1.DOCX
Back to Blog Overview
Next Post

Create your account