According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, on January 8, 2025, the Parliament of Singapore passed the Food Safety and Security Act (FSSA) — a new law designed to consolidate and modernize existing legislation related to food security, enhance food-safety management, and adapt the nation’s agri-food system to climate change and the rise of novel food products.
The FSSA replaces and harmonizes eight existing acts, creating a single, comprehensive legal framework for food and agricultural product regulation.
Key Provisions of the New FSSA
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Licensing Requirements for Importers and Food Businesses
Certain types of food importers and traders must now obtain licenses from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).-
Tier 1: Traders must have an export or import license for regulated items such as meat, fruit, and eggs.
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Tier 2: Every shipment for import, export, or transshipment must also receive a permit, ensuring full compliance with food-safety requirements.
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Traceability and Record-Keeping Obligations
To ensure rapid recall of unsafe products, Sections 3 and 4 of the FSSA require all licensed food importers and traders to:-
Maintain immediate access to supplier, manufacturer, and product details.
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Implement traceability systems tracking products from suppliers to the next responsible entity.
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Establish recall procedures in case unsafe food is detected.
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Mandatory “Food Control Plan”
A “Food Control Plan” is a prerequisite for general food-business licensing.-
All food enterprises (other than primary producers) must establish and maintain this plan, which details hygiene standards for workers, design and sanitation of facilities and equipment, identification of foreseeable hazards, and corrective measures.
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Similar requirements apply to businesses handling animal feed.
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Regulation of “Specified Foods”
The FSSA introduces a category of “specified foods,” which includes novel foods, genetically modified foods, and insect-based foods.-
These products will require pre-market approval under a unified review process.
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This approach aims to promote innovation while maintaining consumer confidence and transparency in food production.
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Stricter Penalties for Violations
The Act raises the maximum penalty for food-safety violations to SGD 50,000.-
Offenders whose licenses have been revoked for fraud or repeated violations will be barred from reapplying for up to three years.
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Under previous rules, re-application was allowed immediately after conviction.
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Implementation Timeline
The FSSA will be implemented in phases, giving businesses sufficient time to adapt:
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Regulations on “specified foods” are expected to take effect by late 2025.
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Full enforcement of all provisions is planned for 2028.
Implications for Vietnamese Exporters
Mr. Cao Xuan Thang, Commercial Counselor and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, emphasized that Vietnamese trade associations and enterprises must carefully study and comply with these new regulations when exporting or importing food and agricultural products to Singapore.
Strict adherence to the FSSA will help safeguard brand reputation, avoid penalties, and ensure long-term market access for Vietnamese goods.