Understanding the Points Demerit System (PDS)

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Who does the PDS apply to?

Retail food businesses that are licensed by SFA are subject to the PDS. These include (but are not limited to):

Food stalls located in coffee shops, canteens, food courts, and hawker centres
Food shops (e.g. restaurants, takeaways, and food caterers)
Main operators of coffee shops, canteens, and food courts

All food businesses and food handlers are responsible for ensuring that food is safe for consumption. They must observe good personal hygiene and food safety practices at all times.

What is the PDS?

Under the PDS, retail food businesses incur demerit points for the food safety offences committed. Offences that have a greater impact on food safety are assigned more demerit points.

A food business that has accumulated the threshold number of demerit points within the specified time period will be liable for suspension or cancellation of their licence.

Under Section 99(15) of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987, a licence may be suspended or cancelled if the food business violates any provision of the Act.

How are the demerit points incurred?

A retail food business will incur demerit points if they commit food safety offences.

Food safety offences are divided into three categories according to the severity of offences:

Severity of Offence	Demerit Points
Minor offence (e.g. altering layout of premises without approval, failing to maintain the premises in good repair)	0
Major offence (e.g. failing to keep the premises, chillers or appliances clean)	4
Serious offence (e.g. having an unregistered assistant, pest infestation)	6

See the list of offences and their corresponding demerit points for details.

What are the penalties for food safety offences?

SFA takes enforcement action against food businesses if they commit food safety offences. Enforcement actions include composition sums and prosecution in court. Retail food businesses may also have their licences suspended or revoked under the PDS.

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1. Composition of offences

Composition sums may be issued for food safety offences committed. The quantum amount corresponds to the demerit points incurred:

Severity of Offence	Demerit Points	Composition Sum
Minor Offence	0	$200
Major Offence	4	$300
Serious Offence	6	$400

In lieu of prosecutorial action, SFA may offer composition for food safety offences detected. Offenders who wish to accept the offer are required to pay the composition sum by the prescribed due date.

2. Penalties for lapses in upkeeping and maintenance of toilets

Clean toilets are important in food establishments as these are premises where food is served to the public. Apart from keeping toilets clean and in good working order, toilet operators should also ensure that the toilets are properly equipped with basic amenities such as liquid hand soap, toilet paper and litter bins.

With effect from 1 April 2020, penalties for lapses in toilet cleanliness and maintenance may be imposed, with composition sums of up to $500.

3. Suspension or revocation of licence

Under the PDS, retail food business licences are liable for suspension or revocation, depending on the number of demerit points accumulated and the time period over which they were incurred.

Demerit points are dated to when the offence was committed, and not the date of conviction in court or payment of composition sums.

Individual stalls and food establishments

The suspension periods for food stalls in coffee shops, canteens, food courts, hawker centres, as well as individual food shops (e.g. restaurants), based on the accumulated demerit points, are listed in the table below.

Accumulated Demerit Points	Suspension Period
12 points within 12 months	1st suspension	2 weeks
12 points within 12 months after 1st suspension	2nd suspension	4 weeks
12 points within 12 months after 2nd suspension	3rd suspension	Licence revoked

Operators of coffeeshops, food courts or canteens

PDS also applies to main operators of coffee shops, food courts and canteens to encourage operators to place greater emphasis on the overall food safety standards of the premises. The suspension periods of operators, based on the accumulated demerit points, are listed in the table below.

Accumulated Demerit Points	Suspension Period
12 points within 12 months	1st suspension	1 day
12 points within 12 months after 1st suspension	2nd suspension	2 days
12 points within 12 months after 2nd suspension	3rd suspension	3 days

When a retail food business licence is suspended:

Food handlers and Food Hygiene Officers are also required to re-attend and pass the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 and Level 3, respectively.

This is to ensure that food handlers and FHOs are reminded of the necessary food safety knowledge and practices, and are vigilant and aware of their responsibility to uphold food safety standards.

In the event that the main operator of a coffee shop, food court, or canteen is suspended under PDS, all individual stalls within the premises are also required to be closed during the suspension period.

How does the PDS encourage food safety?

Reinforcing awareness of food safety risks

PDS reinforces the awareness of food safety risks by food businesses and their responsibility in ensuring food safety. It also provides them with a better understanding of the severity of the various offences and how they can improve their food safety practices.

The demerit point system that is based on the severity of offences, together with the suspension or revocation framework, seeks to motivate food businesses to uphold high food safety standards and take responsibility in preventing the recurrence of food safety lapses.

Suspension before revocation of licences

By suspending licences instead of revoking them immediately, SFA provides food businesses with an opportunity to improve on their food safety practices to prevent their licences from being suspended again or revoked eventually.

For more information

Download the FAQs for more information. You can also contact us via the SFA Online Feedback Form.

Last Updated 09 September 2026

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