What You Need to Know for Export / Tranship of Food & Food Products

What You Need to Know for Export / Tranship of Food & Food Products | Singapore Government Singapore Food Agency

Export

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Who can apply for licences to export food?

Food processing establishments, cold stores, and warehouses registered with or licensed by SFA to prepare, pack or store food intended for export can apply for the licences.

For more details, see Businesses that need Licence/Registration for Food Manufacturing and Storage.

What are the requirements to export food?

Businesses that want to export food must have a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) issued by Singapore Customs for each consignment, which incorporates SFA’s requirements. The CCP is equivalent to an SFA export permit. You may refer to the Export Procedures for exporting food and food products. Certain categories of food and food products require an export licence from SFA.

What licence do I need from SFA to export food?

The SFA export licence required depends on the type of food you intend to export. Use the following resources to determine the classification of your food and food products and the type of export licence required:

Classification of General Food & Food Products

The table below shows the various classes of food and the corresponding SFA export licences required.

Classification	Licences required
Meat and Meat Products	Licence for Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products
Fish and Fish Products
Shell Eggs	Licence to Import/Export/Tranship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics

What are the main steps involved in exporting food?

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Step 1: Ensure you are eligible

To import, export, or tranship food and food products, you need to fulfil some general requirements. For instance, registration with ACRA  is mandatory, and your UEN must be activated with Customs.     

In addition, you must set up a GIRO arrangement with SFA.

For more details, see Requirements for Licence / Permit / Registration for Import / Export

Step 2: Ensure your food or food product can be exported from Singapore

Before exporting any food or food product to a new destination country/region, check and ensure that it meets the importing country/region’s requirements.

For information on overseas destination countries/regions’ requirements for food products exported from Singapore, go to Library of Export Market Requirements.

Step 3: Obtain pre-export approvals (if required)

The Competent Authorities of the destination country/region may require you to register with them and obtain pre-export approvals for your food establishments and/or products before they are allowed to be imported to the destination country/region.

To determine whether pre-export approvals are required, check with your importer/customer or the authorities in the destination country/region. You can also refer to the Library of Export Market Requirements.

Pre-export approvals are only applicable to food products manufactured in Singapore. The establishment must also be licensed by SFA as a food processing establishment.

How to apply for pre-export approval
1	Obtain the application form for the pre-export approval from SFA's Library of Export Market Requirements. If the form for a particular destination country/region is unavailable, you may contact SFA via the Online Feedback Form for assistance.
2	Ensure that your company complies with the requirements stated in the application form. To facilitate the application process, please submit the application for pre-export approval with all information and supporting documents required by the destination country/region.
3	Submit the application form with the required information via the SFA Online Feedback Form.
4	SFA will evaluate your application and conduct on-site visits to confirm that your establishment complies with the conditions of the destination country/region. If the inspection outcome is satisfactory, SFA will submit a recommendation for your application to the Competent Authority of the destination country/region for registration.
5	The Competent Authority may conduct an inspection visit to your establishment in Singapore and/or request additional documentation before granting approval.
6	You will receive a notification from SFA once your application is approved by the destination country/region.
7	The Competent Authority in the destination country/region may conduct audits and/or ask for information/documents to verify the conditions of your approved establishments as and when deemed necessary.

Some countries/regions may publish the approved list of foreign food establishments eligible for import on their website. You may refer to the Library of Export Market Requirements for the list of establishments published by the Competent Authority of the importing country/region.

Step 4: Ensure your food and food products meet the destination country/region’s requirements

Countries/regions importing your food and food products may impose import requirements (e.g. importer’s registration and labelling). Ensure your food and food products comply with these requirements to avoid delays, detention of your food and food products, and other complications.

You can check with the destination country/region’s authority on their import requirements. For instance, some countries/regions only permit meat and egg imports from accredited overseas establishments.

Go to SFA's Library of Export Market Requirements to learn more about the food regulations and standards in countries and regions that have food trade links and connections with Singapore. You may also need to pay tariffs for your exports. Enterprise SG offers a Tariff Finder Tool to help local businesses. Register with EnterpriseSG to use this service.

Step 5: Apply for export documents (if required)

The destination country/region may have their own requirements for specific food products and request an export document to be issued by SFA.

SFA issues the following export certificates to facilitate the export of Meat & Meat Products and Fish & Fish Products from Singapore traders/manufacturers to overseas countries/regions:

Free Sale Certificate
Export Health Certificate
Export Health Certificate (for Imported Food Products)

These certificates provide assurance that the export products meet the requirements of the destination countries/regions. To apply for these certificates, see Application Process for Export Certificates.

You must obtain the relevant certificates before you export your food and food products. The certificates cannot be issued after it has been exported. Food and food products that reach the destination country/region without the required export documents will not be allowed to enter the market.

Check with your customer, i.e. the party importing your food and food products, on the export documents required. You can also check with the Competent Authority of the destination country/region.

Step 6: Apply for a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP)

Follow the steps below to apply for a CCP.

Step	Description	Instructions
1	Obtain the Harmonised System (HS) code	When applying for your CCP, you will need to enter the product/HS code of your product accurately. HS codes classify and identify food or food products. You can use the Product Code Search Tool to look up product/HS codes.
2	Gather the supporting documents	Refer to the Competent Authorities’ Requirements for Controlled Items for the list of supporting documents required.
3	Submit application	You must apply for a CCP through TradeNet for each consignment.
4	Approval by SFA	Complete permit applications are processed within 1 working day. SFA will notify you when your application has been approved. For details, refer to Application Process & Fees for Licence / Permit / Registration for Import / Export.

Step 7: Make Payment

Once your application is processed, you will be notified through TradeNet to make payment for the CCP. For applicants with a GIRO arrangement with SFA, we will deduct the fee payable to SFA via GIRO.

For details, refer to Application Process & Fees for Licence / Permit / Registration for Import / Export.

Step 8: Print your CCP

Once your CCP is approved, you can log into TradeNet to print a copy of the CCP.

Tranship

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What are the requirements to tranship food?

Businesses that want to tranship food must have a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) for each consignment. Depending on the mode of transhipment, an additional Transhipment Permit for each consignment may be required.

For details on how to obtain a CCP and a Transhipment permit, see:Export Procedures for exporting food and food products

Quick Guide on Transhipping Food and Food Products

Certain categories of food and food products require a transhipment licence from SFA.

What licence do I need from SFA to tranship food?

Specific licences are required for the transhipment of different categories of food and food products. Use the following resources to determine the classification of your food:

Classification of General Food & Food Products

The table below shows the various categories of food and the corresponding licences required for transhipment from Singapore.

Classification	Licences required
Meat and Meat Products	Licence for Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products
Fish and Fish Products
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables	Licence for Import/Transhipment of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Shell Eggs	Licence to Import/Export/Tranship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics
Processed Eggs	No additional SFA licence is required if you have a trader’s licence issued by SFA.
Processed Food & Food Appliances	No additional SFA licence is required if you have a trader’s licence issued by SFA.

What are the main steps involved in transhipping food?

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Step 1: Check that your food or food product is approved for transhipment from the country/region of origin

Before transhipping any food or food product, ensure that it is approved for transhipment from the country/region of origin and the country/region of destination. You can check with your customer/importer in the country/region of origin and/or country/region of destination.

Step 2: Obtain pre-export approvals (if required)

The Competent Authorities of the destination country/region may require the food establishments and/or products from the country/region of origin to be registered with them and obtain pre-export approvals before they can be imported.

Some countries/regions may publish the approved list of foreign food establishments for import on their Competent Authorities’ websites. You can also refer to the Library of Export Market Requirements for the list of establishments published by the countries/regions’ Competent Authorities.

Step 3: Ensure your food and food products meet the destination country/region’s requirements

Transhipping Shell Eggs

SFA-licensed transhippers of shell eggs must also ensure they comply with the following requirements:

the eggs must originate from bird flu-free countries/regions
no other eggs from a different consignment should be carried in the same conveyance during transhipment through Singapore

Step 4: Apply for a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) and Transhipment Permit (if required)

Step	Description	Instructions
1	Obtain the Harmonised System (HS) code	When applying for your CCP and/or Transhipment Permit, you will need to enter the product/HS code of your product accurately. HS codes classify and identify food or food products. You can use the Product Code Search Tool to look up product/HS codes. For information on how to obtain a CCP and which transhipment movements require a transhipment permit, refer to the following resources: Export Procedures for exporting food and food products Quick Guide on Transhipping Food and food products Types of Transhipment Permits
2	Gather the supporting documents	Refer to the Competent Authorities’ Requirements for Controlled Items for the list of supporting documents required.
3	Apply for a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) and Transhipment Permit (if required)	You must apply for a CCP through TradeNet for each consignment. To avoid delays in processing your permits, ensure you enter the correct HS codes and attach the supporting documents to your application.
4	Approval from SFA	Completed permit applications are processed within 1 working day. For details, refer to Application Process & Fees for Licence / Permit / Registration for Import / Export.

Step 5: Make Payment

Once your application is processed, you will be notified through TradeNet to make payment for the CCP and Transhipment Permit. The fees, if applicable, will be automatically deducted from your bank account via GIRO.

Step 6: Print your CCP and Transhipment Permit (if required)

Once your CCP and Transhipment Permit are approved, you can log into TradeNet to print copies of the permits.