Singapore Issues the Revision to Food Regulations 2023, Involving the Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary Drugs

Singapore's Food Regulations have been updated to mainly include revised definitions of antimicrobial agent, updated restrictions on the use of chemical preservatives and a new Eighteenth Schedule specifying MRLs for residues of veterinary drugs in foods.

On April 18, 2023, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) published a circular on Food (Amendment) Regulations 2023. The revision mainly involves provisions of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for residues of veterinary drugs, with the addition of the new Eighteenth Schedule. This amendment came into effect on April 28, 2023.

Major Revisions

Regulations on the use of Class IV chemical preservative in food products
a. The updated regulations add nisin as a Class IV chemical preservative.
b. According to the amendment, it is prohibited to import, sell, advertise, manufacture, consign, or deliver any food product that contains Class IV chemical preservative, with the exception of liquid egg products, liquid egg analogues, cheese, and canned foods that have been heat-processed sufficiently to eliminate Clostridium botulinum spores, where Class IV chemical preservative may be used for preservation purposes.
Replacement of regulations 32 and 33, involving the new definition of substance

	Previous Regulation	Updated Regulation
Definition	Antibiotic: any chemical substance, produced either by chemical synthesis or by a microorganism which in low concentration has the capability to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria and other micro-organisms.	Antimicrobial agent: any substance of natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic origin that when administered to a living organism, kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms.
Residue requirements	Prohibits detectable residues of antibiotics or their degradation products in food.	Regulates detectable residues of antimicrobial agents or their degradation products in food, with exemptions for veterinary drugs.

3. New Eighteenth Schedule on MRLs for residues of veterinary drugs in foods

The following table shows a few of the items.

Permitted residue	Category	Maximum Residue Limit (mcg/kg)
6-Alpha-Methylprednisolone	Pig fat	20
6-Alpha-Methylprednisolone	Cattle milk	20
Albendazole	Cattle milk	100
Albendazole	Sheep milk	5
Amoxicillin	Cattle milk	4
	Goat milk	4
	Sheep liver	50