Singapore Proposes Regulations in Defined Food and Pre-market Approval

On March 15, 2024, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued a consultation document, seeking feedback on regulations for defined food and their pre-market approval. The draft regulations aim to clarify the responsibilities of companies selling novel and genetically modified (GM) foods in Singapore, requiring them to obtain pre-approval before market launch. Any comment can be submitted before May 14, 2024 via SFA.

As revealed by the consultation document, SFA will introduce a Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB), in which a new food category named "Defined Food" will be established. These foods will be subject to regulatory oversight by SFA, and must meet additional regulatory requirements before importation or sale in Singapore.

What is "Defined Food"?

A "Defined Food" refers to food that falls into one or more of the following categories:

1. It is a novel food without pre-market approval, or contains novel food without pre-market approval as an ingredient;

2. It is a GM food without pre-market approval, or contains GM food without pre-market approval as an ingredient;

3. It contains any form of insect-like species, (whole or in parts, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, smoked, salted, brined, or as flour), which is not listed as a catalogued insect-like species. The regulatory framework for insects and the list of catalogued insect-like species have been previously notified through G/SPS/N/SGP/79.

Pre-market Approval for Companies

Defined foods imported or domestically produced in Singapore must obtain official approval before they can be sold in the market. Companies applying for the approval shall provide the following relevant supporting documents for official verification of the safety of the respective food products.

• Potential adverse effects on humans;

• Composition or structure of the novel food or the GM food;

• Preparation process of the novel food or GM food;

• Source from which the novel food or GM food is derived;

• Expected patterns and levels of the consumption of the novel food or GM food;

• Any other relevant factors.

Furthermore, according to public information disclosed in FSSB, defined food and its pre-market approval is one of the key themes in FSSB's draft provisions in the near future. Other essential themes in FSSB's plan include:

1. Defined food and pre-market approval.

2. Provision of non-packaged drinking water.

3. Strengthening the resilience of food supply.

4. Certain agri-food production inputs, such as animal feed and pesticides.

5. Import, export, and transshipment.

6. Food businesses.