In Singapore, all meat, fish and egg processing establishments, coldstores and slaughter-houses must be licensed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) before they are permitted to carry out any food processing or storage for wholesale distribution.
For licensing of processed food establishments (other than meat, fish or egg processing) please click here.
Meat, fish and egg processing establishments, cold stores and slaughter-houses have to comply with the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act, Sale of Food Act and the licensing conditions.
- Meat, Fish and Egg Processing Establishments and Cold Stores
- Poultry Slaughter-Houses
Food processing premises, cold stores and slaughter-houses are preferably located within the area designated as a food zone during land planning. After a site or building is identified, the applicant should check with AVA on the suitability of its location. Site inspection of the proposed premises may be required at this stage. If the site or building is not suitable, applicant will have to source for another location.
If the site or building is suitable, processor should submit layout plan(s) and process flow chart(s) to AVA for evaluation. AVA will assess the proposed plans and provide professional advice to the applicant. The premises must be designed in a manner so as to allow one directional flow to prevent cross-contamination between raw and finished products so as to comply with AVA's food safety requirements.
After the processor has finalised the layout plan(s) with AVA, the processor may proceed to carry out renovation of the premises.
An applicant is required to register with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (or ACRA) under the Business Registration Act (Cap. 32); or in the case of a company, incorporated or registered under the Companies Act (Cap. 50).
A copy of the original Instant Business Profile from the ACRA must be submitted to AVA when you apply for the licence.
The processor should formally apply to AVA for a licence as soon as the renovation of the premises has been completed.
An applicant should submit a duly completed application form for the Licence to operate a meat or fish or egg processing establishment or cold store or Licence to operate a slaughter-house on-line, via, the Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS) together with the supporting documents (eg: proposed layout plan, list of products, process flows). The supporting documents can also be submitted directly to AVA. We will contact the applicant to inspect the premises within 7 working days upon receipt of the application. Any shortcomings and appropriate decision will be conveyed verbally to the applicant during site inspection. An official letter will inform the applicant on the outcome of the application. Uncompleted premises would most likely be rejected.
An application fee of S$157.50 (inclusive of 7% GST) will be levied on any new application made. This application fee will cover the evaluation of floor plans and process flow charts. It will also include a joint site inspection of the completed premises by the Licensing Section with the applicant to ensure compliance with AVA's requirements before a licence is issued. You will be prompted for the payment during your submission for licence application via OBLS.
The annual fees for the following licences are:
- Licence to operate a meat or fish processing establishment or cold store - S$260.00
- Licence to operate an egg processing establishment - S$180.00 (S), S$360.00 (M) or S$600.00 (L)
- Licence to operate a meat or fish processing establishment where meat or fish products in containers are hermetically sealed and thereafter preserved by subjection to heat treatment - S$840.00
- Licence to operate a slaughter-house for poultry - S$1000.00
- Licence to operate a new slaughter-house for livestock - S$4000.00
- Licence to operate a slaughter-house for livestock (renewal) - S$1575.00
All licensed food processing premises, cold stores and slaughterhouses would be subject to regular inspections by AVA to ensure that the food produced are safe and fit for human consumption.
AVA conducts regular, scheduled and unannounced inspections at all AVA-licensed food processing establishments, coldstores and slaughter-houses. The frequency of checks depends on the sanitary conditions of the premises. Areas of checks would include the general cleanliness and hygiene of the premises and workers; documentation and status of rectification of the shortcomings observed in earlier inspection visits. AVA also provides advices on GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) and food safety programmes such as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point). AVA may collect samples from the licensed establishments for laboratory examination.
Under the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act and the Sale of Food Act, AVA has the legal power to take enforcement action against any licensee of food processing establishments, cold stores and slaughter-houses for violating AVA's food safety regulations.
Prior to annual renewal of the licence, AVA conducts a grading inspection on the licensed establishment.
Areas of checks cover the following parameters such as:
- Premises - General cleanliness and housekeeping
- Food Storage
- Food Processing Equipment and Facilities
- Food Handling and Facilities
- Product Identification and Transportation
- Food Safety System
- Food Hygiene Training
- Documentation
- Violation Records
AVA uses a checklist to grade the performance of the processing establishments. All food factories in Singapore that are in operation for more than a year are graded by AVA. They are classified into four grades: Grade A (Excellent); Grade B (Good); Grade C (Average) and Grade D (Pass).
One of the main objectives of the system is to assist food factories of lower grades to upgrade and improve on their factory layout and food hygiene practices. This system also allows identification of the lower grade factories so that more regulatory efforts could be directed at them. Grade C and D factories are inspected more frequently than Grade A and B factories. For more information on the food factory grading system, please click here.
AVA will follow-up with the licensees in writing on the defects and shortcomings observed during the inspection. A renewal licence will be subsequently issued with the grade printed on it. All workers handling exposed food are required to be examined and found medically healthy by a medical practitioner. For a copy of the medical report form, please click here.
For a listing of meat/fish/egg processing establishments and slaughter-houses and their grades, please click here.
Submission of data
All licensed food establishments, pig and poultry slaughter-houses are required to submit their daily and monthly statistics to AVA. Please register your company at the following link:
https://app.ifast.ava.gov.sg/EServiceWeb/Login.aspx
Statistics Submission - Monthly Production for Food Establishments
Statistics Submission - Abattoir (Slaughter)
Statistics Submission - Abattoir (Temperature of Pig Carcasses)
Statistics Submission - Poultry (Condemnation)
Statistics Submission - Poultry (Daily Admission)
Food Establishment Regulation Department
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
5 Maxwell Road, #18-00 Tower Block, MND Complex
Singapore 069110
Fax: 6324 4563
| Mon - Fri |
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8.30am - 1.00pm |
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2.00pm - 5.30pm |
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| Sat, Sun and Public Holidays |
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Closed |
Mr Ng Eng Siong
Tel: 6325 8492
E-mail : ng_eng_siong@ava.gov.sg
Mr Dave Oh Kang Leng
Tel: 6325 5484
E-mail : oh_kang_leng@ava.gov.sg
Ms Jannie Wan
Tel: 6325 7100
E-mail : jannie_wan@ava.gov.sg
For enquiries on grading of food processing establishments:
Mr Lam Yew Guan
Tel: 6325 0782
E-mail : lam_yew_guan@ava.gov.sg
Mr Chionh Kia Lee
Tel: 6325 5481
Email: chionh_kia_lee@ava.gov.sg