Food Labelling and Advertisements

Food label refers to any descriptive material comprising words, pictures and diagrams that appear on the package of food. The label informs consumers of the nature, contents, quantity and quality of the food. It also provides information on the source of the food.

Nutrient function claims

• The claim is about essential nutrients that have established recommended intakes and/or are of nutritional importance.
• There is sufficient generally accepted scientific evidence to prove the suggested function or role of the nutrient as claimed.
• The claim enables the public to understand the information provided and its significance to their overall daily diet.
• The particular nutrient mentioned is present in an amount that either meets the requirements of the Food Regulations, or the requirements of the nutrient claim guidelines established by the Health Promotion Board.  The product carrying the claim should also be labelled in accordance with the requirements of the Food Regulations for use of nutrition claims. 
• The claim does not state or have the implication that the nutrient is for prevention or treatment for a disease.

List of acceptable nutrient function claims for all foods

(I)    Macronutrients
       
       Protein        

• Protein provides the essential amino acids needed to aid in the building and maintenance of body tissues.
• Protein helps in tissue building and growth.

      Lactose

• Low lactose content allows easier digestion/ eases digestion for people who are lactose intolerant.

• Aids the digestive system.

• Calcium helps build/to support development of strong bones and teeth.

      Iodine     

• Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland.

      Iron       

• Iron is an important component of red blood cells which carry oxygen to all parts of the body to help the body’s production of energy.
• Iron is needed to produce haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues.
• Iron is needed to produce myoglobin, the protein that helps supply oxygen to muscle.

      Folate (for pregnant women)      

• Folate helps support foetus’ growth and overall development.
• Folate plays a role in the formation of red blood cells. 
• Folate, taken before and during early pregnancy, helps in the mental/normal and overall development of foetus.
• Folic acid is essential/important for growth and division of cells.

     Vitamin K and vitamin D work synergistically on bone metabolism to improve
     bone strength/ build strong bones.

     Magnesium helps in the absorption and retention of calcium.

     Zinc is essential for growth.


(III) Other food constituents

      Collagen 

• Collagen is a protein in connective tissues found in skin, bones and muscles.

       Probiotics*           

• Helps to maintain a healthy digestive system.
• Helps in digestion.
• Helps to maintain a desirable balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.
• Helps to suppress/fight against harmful bacteria in the digestive system, thereby helping to maintain a healthy digestive system.

      Prebiotics*     

• Prebiotic promotes the growth of good Bifidus bacteria to help maintain a healthy digestive system.
• Inulin helps support growth of beneficial bacteria/good intestinal flora in the gut.
• Oligofructose stimulates the bifido-bacteria, resulting in a significant increase of the beneficial bifidobacteria in the intestinal tract. At the same time, the presence of less desirable bacteria is significantly reduced.
• Inulin helps increase intestinal bifidobacteria and helps maintain a good intestinal environment.

*     Need to specify the name(s) of the probiotic or prebiotic whenever a claim is made in relation to that probiotic or prebiotic.

Choline helps support overall mental functioning.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are important building blocks for development of the brain and eyes in infant. (only for food for children up to 3 years of age)

Nucleotides are essential to normal cell function and replication, which are important for the overall growth and development of infant.

Taurine helps to support overall mental and physical development.

• A healthy diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D, with regular exercise, helps to achieve strong bones and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.  (Name of food) is a good source of/high in/enriched in/fortified with calcium. 
• A healthy diet low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke and heart disease. (Name of food) is sodium free/ low in/ very low in/ reduced in sodium.
• A healthy diet low in saturated fat and trans fat, may reduce the risk of heart disease. (Name of food) is free of/ low in saturated fats, trans fats.
• A healthy diet rich in whole grains⁺, fruits and vegetables that contain dietary fibre, may reduce the risk of heart disease. (Name of food) is low/ free of fat and high in dietary fibre.
• A healthy diet rich in fibre-containing foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancers. (Name of food) is free/ low in fat and high in dietary fibre.
   

The approved health claims and criteria have been developed based on Singapore's existing national nutrient claims guidelines formulated by HPB, with reference taken from currently available guidelines established by major developed countries.

Only food products that have been first approved by HPB to carry the Healthier Choice Symbol may be considered for application of use of these health claims*.  HPB will conduct pre-market evaluation of applications that are concurrently submitted with applications for the Healthier Choice Symbol.  AVA will conduct pre-market evaluation of separate applications.

Applications may be sent to the following AVA/HPB contacts

Regulatory Programmes Division

Regulatory Administration Department

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority

5, Maxwell Road, Tower Block

#18-00, MND Complex

Singapore 069110

Tel:  6325 8551 / 6325 8556
Fax: 6324 4563

Email: AVA_LabelsAndClaims@ava.gov.sg

Nutrition Department

Adult Health Division

Health Promotion Board

No 3 Second Hospital Avenue #04-00
Singapore 168937

Fax: 6435 3609

Email: hpb_nutrition_dept@hpb.gov.sg

    (1)    A healthy diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D, with regular exercise, helps to achieve strong bones and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.  (Name of food) is a good source of/high in/enriched in/fortified with calcium.

Criteria

1.         The reference quantity of the product must contain at least 50% of calcium RDA, which should be taken as 800mg; and

2.         the product should also either be low in fat:

   <=3g fat per 100g or <=1.5g fat per 100ml

or

   fat free:

   <=0.15g fat per 100g or 100ml.

    (2)    A healthy diet low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke and heart disease. (Name of food) is sodium free/ low in/ very low in/ reduced in sodium.

Criteria

The product should contain no added salt

or

is salt/ sodium free:

<=5mg sodium per 100g

or

is very low in salt/ sodium:

<=40mg per 100g

or

is low in sodium: <=120mg per 100g

or

has reduced sodium:

if sodium content per reference quantity is <= 15% of sodium RDA, which should be taken as 2000mg.

    (3)    A healthy diet low in saturated fat and trans fat, may reduce the risk of heart disease. (Name of food) is free of/ low in saturated fats, trans fats.

Criteria

The product should be

1.   low in saturated fat:

<=1.5g saturated fat per 100g, and <=10% of kilocalories from saturated fat

or

free of saturated fat: <=0.5g saturated fat per 100g, and <=1% of the total fat is trans fat; and is

2.   free of trans fat:

<0.5g per 100g; and

3.   low in sugar:

<=5g per 100g or <=2.5 g per 100ml

or

sugar free:

<=0.5g per 100g or 100ml

or

unsweetened

or

has no added sugar; and

4.   contains cholesterol at <=100mg per 100g (1/3 of cholesterol daily allowance); and

    (4)    A healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables that contain dietary fibre, may reduce the risk of heart disease. (Name of food) is low/ free of fat and high in dietary fibre.

Criteria

The product should be

1.   a product from these food groups - whole grains, fruit, vegetables or fibre fortified foods; and is

2.   low in fat:

<=3g fat per 100g or <=1.5g fat per 100ml

or

fat free:

<=0.15g fat per 100g or 100ml; and

3.   high in dietary fibre:

>=3g per 100 kcal or >=6g per 100g or 100ml; and

4.   with at least 25% of the dietary fibre comprising soluble fibre.

    (5)    A healthy diet rich in fibre containing foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancers. (Name of food) is free/ low in fat and high in dietary fibre.

Criteria

The product should be

1.   a product from these food groups - whole grains, fruit, vegetables or fibre fortified foods; and is

2.   low in fat:

<=3g fat per 100g or <=1.5g fat per 100ml

or

fat free:

<=0.15g fat per 100g or 100ml; and

3.   High in dietary fibre:

>=3g per 100 kcal or >=6g per 100g or 100ml; and

4.   its reference quantity should not exceed 25% of sodium RDA, which is taken as 2000mg.

(2)        Ministry of Health

(3)        Health Sciences Authority

(4)        SPRING Singapore

(5)        National University of Singapore

(6)        Singapore Polytechnic

(7)        Republic Polytechnic

(8)        Consumers Association of Singapore

(9)        Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation

(10)      Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association

(11)      Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore

Framework and Principles

The Committee held its first meeting in November 2009 and established a framework and principles for evaluation of health claims in Singapore, based on Codex's recommendations on the scientific basis for health claim.

Guidance Information, Application form and Checklist for Application of New Nutrient Function and Other Function Claims

The Committee also finalised the following guidance information, application form and checklist to assist industry members who wish to apply for the use of new nutrient function and other function claims as defined by Codex submit their applications.

Evaluation of Claim

The committee completed its evaluation on the first claim. 

Plant sterols and stanols

The following proposed health claim may be used for specific products such as margarine-type spreads, mayonnaise, salad dressing, low fat dairy products, or special dietary food products approved to contain plant sterols and stanols by AVA, under the conditions specified by AVA for use of plant sterols and stanols in this category of foods.

"Plant sterols/stanols have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol.  High blood cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease".

In addition, information as stated below must be labelled clearly on the labels of food products:

•          the proposed daily intake of plant stanols/ sterols in order to have the blood cholesterol lowering effect. Intake of >3g plant stanols/ sterols per day should be avoided.

•          special suitability for the use of the product ie, people who would want to reduce blood cholesterol

•          reminder to seek medical advice for certain group of consumers eg. pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under age of five years, patients on cholesterol lowering medication

•          statement to indicate that use of the product should be as a part of a balanced diet that is made up of a variety of foods

The plant sterols and stanols added should meet the specifications established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in 2008 (http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa-additives/specs/monograph5/additive-509-m5.pdf).



Methods of Analysis

It is the responsibility of importers and manufacturers to ensure the accuracy of the nutrition information declared in their product labels. Importers and manufacturers should engage a suitable testing laboratory to verify the nutrient content of their products. A list of Singapore Accreditation Council-Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) accredited laboratories can be found here.

The methods of analysis used should be those published in the most recent versions of the "Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International". Other collaboratively studied methods such as those published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the Nordic Committee on Food Analysis (NMKL) are also acceptable. In house or journal methods with adequate method validation data may be considered if they are validated for the food matrix being analysed.

AVA conducts laboratory testing to verify the accuracy of nutrition information declared in food labels from time to time. The methods of analysis currently used are those published in the most recent versions of the "Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International". New methods may be adopted as and when improvements in methodology are available.

Average Weight Declaration for Prepacked Foods (to be implemented)


AVA has, in consultation with the Weights and Measures Office (WMO) of SPRING Singapore, completed a review on the minimum weight declaration requirement for prepacked foods under the Food Regulations, so as to keep abreast with the latest international guidelines, and ensure consistency in food product weight declaration at the national level.

The Food Regulations currently require prepacked foods to have the minimum quantities of their contents present in the package declared in terms of volumetric measure or net weight in their labels.  However, the weight measures of prepacked goods in general are also governed by the Weights and Measures Act and its Regulations, and these gazettes have been amended to replace the Minimum Quantity System (MQS) with the latest internationally accepted Average Quantity System (AQS).  The Weights and Measures Act and its Regulations are administered by WMO. WMO is now actively promoting adoption of AQS among the local industries. 

AQS is an internationally recognised system for determining deficiencies in prepacked goods, which provides fairness to packers, manufacturers and consumers. Packers/manufacturers can increase productivity by reducing overfill needed to assure correct quantity. Consumers can be assured that prepacked goods purchased are on average equal to nominal quantity.

Internationally, the AQS has already been adopted by major developed countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, the United States and member states of the European Union.  At the ASEAN level, the AQS concept has also been incorporated in the document entitled “ASEAN Common Requirements of Pre-packaged Products”, which was adopted by the Working Group of ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality in August 2007.

This new requirement is expected to be implemented in year of 2010.  AVA will allow time for the industry to comply with AQS after amending the Regulations.

Information on the AQS can be downloaded here.  
Average Quantity System (AQS)(English slides)

Average Quantity System (AQS)(Mandarin Slides)

International standards OIML R 79 and OIML R 87 relating to the Average Quantity System (AQS): 
http://www.oiml.org/publications/R/R079-e97.pdf
http://www.oiml.org/publications/R/R087-e04.pdf

Official Chinese translation of OIML R 79 and OIML R 87 relating to the Average Quantity System (AQS):

The above document has been translated into Mandarin for  your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation of the text of the document, however, the official text is the English version of the document. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in the Mandarin document, please refer to the English version of the document which is the official version of the document. 

            
Our contact

Regulatory Programmes Division

Regulatory Administration Department

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority

5, Maxwell Road, Tower Block

#18-00, MND Complex

Singapore 069110

Tel:  6325 8551 / 6325 8556 
Fax: 6324 4563
Email: AVA_LabelsAndClaims@ava.gov.sg