A draft food safety law proposing several changes to current requirements has been presented to government officials in Singapore.
The Ministry of Sustainability and Environment tabled the Food Safety and Security Bill for its first reading in Parliament earlier this week. The bill will be discussed during its second reading, scheduled for January 2025.
The Bill aims to consolidate and renew existing food-related legislation and strengthen food safety controls in Singapore to better protect consumers and public health. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) plans to implement the new requirements in phases over the coming years, starting in 2025.
As an example of consolidation, importers need only refer to the bill that regulates the requirements for importing food products, rather than looking at different laws.
Selected changes
The law does not prescribe operational details, but does require licensees to maintain food control plans. Currently, companies must comply with pre-licensing requirements and conditions, which detail how they must conduct their operations to ensure food is safe.
The coverage of food safety legislation will be extended from the sale of food to its supply, including donations and free distribution. The requirements will be based on the food safety risk of the activity.
Key players in food distribution will be required to maintain records for traceability and recalls so that unsafe food and food contact items can be removed from the market in a timely manner and the impact on human health can be minimized.
Companies must provide details of food recalls within 24 hours if requested. Companies will still have up to 48 hours to remove affected products from store shelves. A company must inform SFA if there is a food safety concern as a result of a withdrawal.
Penalties will be differentiated based on the severity of the violations. Increased penalties will apply to repeat offenders and corporate entities, crimes involving unsafe food causing illness, damage and bodily harm, and crimes committed knowingly. A disqualification framework prescribes a maximum period of three years. Disqualification only applies to operators and traders whose permits have been revoked and does not apply to other points of sale if there are multiple permits.
Local farms will need to develop and implement a farm management plan to reduce food safety risks.
Receive feedback
Proposed provisions have been consulted with various industry stakeholders since August 2023, and public consultations also took place between March and September 2024.
Feedback was received from 112 respondents and 260 participants who attended an in-person engagement session.
Most respondents supported new provisions affecting food businesses, such as the requirement for selected licensed businesses to keep records of food produced or supplied.
Most respondents supported the new Farm Management Plan and Food Control Plan requirements, which allow companies to implement preventative measures tailored to their operational needs.
SFA will continue to implement a pre-market approval process and update the safety assessment guidelines on its website regarding novel foods, genetically modified foods and insects to help implement up-to-date food safety assessment processes.
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