The Food (Export) Health Certificate is issued to traders, to certify a food consignment as fit for human consumption, and meeting safety standards or other required criteria to facilitate the export of this food consignment. This certificate is only issued for food consignments manufactured or processed or packed in a food processing establishment licensed by AVA.
Please familiarize yourself with the following before you apply for a new Food (Export) Health Certificate
If you are submitting the supporting documents online, please get them ready in soft copy format. Alternatively, you may submit them offline (i.e. via fax, over the counter)
Please complete the online application within 1.5 hours.
Time and Information Needed to apply online
This form may take you 20 minutes to fill in.
You will need the following information to fill in the form:
- Details of the company including name, Unique Entity Number (UEN), address, postal code, and email address if any
- Details of the business operating address and mailing address including their postal codes
- Details of the consignments of the product to be exported include : product description, brand name, batch number, quantity and the place where the product is kept if it is different from the company address.
- Other details of the consignment including destination, shipping mark, ETD, vessel name, export quantity, name of consignor and consignee
You may submit additional supporting documents under the Section, "Supporting document", if any.
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If you have any queries, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Please call the following officers should you require further clarification or assistance.
| Names |
Tel No. |
| Mr Lim Tiong Peng |
6325 8496 |
| Mr Tan Jiawen |
6325 7683 |
| Mr Ng Sim Yam |
6325 0645 |
- Locally Manufactured/Processed Foods
A food (export) certificate will only be issued for food consignments manufactured or processed or packed in a food processing establishment licensed by the Food Establishment Regulation Department of AVA.
- Food Products to Comply With Singapore Food Laws
Food (export) certificates are issued for food consignments that comply fully with the requirements of the Sale of Food Act Cap 283 and the Food Regulations. For food consignments that do not meet the requirements of the Food Regulations, the issue of a statement of fact may be considered if the applicant can furnish evidence that such standards are acceptable to the relevant authorities or comply with the food laws of the importing country.
- Submission of Application
The applicant should submit an “Online Application for Food (Export) Health Certificate” providing information on the consignments of the food product to be exported.
- Inspection and Sampling of Food Products
On the appointed date, AVA officer will carry out an inspection of the food consignment intended for export. He will then draw samples from the consignment for laboratory analysis. Applicant should ensure that the consignment is ready on the day of inspection. The inspection date is scheduled according to the applicant’s request and 3 working days advance notice is required.
The samples will be sent to M/s Setsco Services Pte Ltd for microbiological analysis and/or Health Sciences Authority (Food Safety Laboratory) for chemical and radiation analysis, depending on the type of product and analysis required.
- Laboratory Analysis & Reports
The laboratory concerned will prepare a laboratory analysis report on the food sample analyzed. The analytical results will be released from 5 days to 2 weeks depending on test parameters requested by applicant. The applicant should make arrangements to collect the analysis report from the laboratory concerned. The charges for the laboratory analysis will have to be borne by the applicant and are payable directly to the respective laboratories.
The contact numbers of the laboratories are: -
Health Sciences Authority
Food Safety Laboratory
11 Outram Road
Singapore 169078
Tel: 6213 0838 Fax: 6227 5341
Setsco Services Pte Ltd
Biological & Chemical Technology Division
18 Teban Gardens Crescent
Singapore 608925
Tel: 6566 7777 / Fax: 6566 7718
- Request for the Issue of Food (Export) Certificate
When the laboratory analysis reports are ready, the applicant should submit the analysis reports to the Food Establishment Regulation Department of AVA for the issue of the food (export) certificate. All documents and application must be submitted within two months from the date of sampling, beyond which the analysis reports will not be valid for the issue of a food (export) certificate.
- Collection of Food (Export) Certificate
The food (export) certificate will be ready for collection 3 working days upon receipt of the laboratory analysis report(s). The applicant should confirm if the food (export) certificate can be collected by calling Tel: 6325 0647 during office hours.
Certificate(s) can be collected at the Cashier Counter at 5 Maxwell Road, #02-00, Tower Block, MND Complex, Singapore 069110. The operating hours of the Cashier Counter are as follows:
| Mon – Thu |
8.30am - 1.00pm
2.00pm - 5.30pm |
| Fri |
8.30am - 1.00pm
2.00pm - 5.00pm |
Sat, Sun and Public Holidays Closed
|
Inspection & Sampling |
Laboratory Testing |
Issuance of Certificate |
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Dates are scheduled according to exporters’ request. 3 working day advance notice is required. |
Depending on test parameters requested by applicants. Varies from 5 days to 2 weeks. |
3 working days from the date when the test results are received. |
- Food (Export) Certificate Fee
The fee is charged based on the following components:
- Time taken for AVA officer(s) to carry out inspection and/or sampling of the export consignment(s): $38 per hour
or part thereof; and
- Cost per copy of certificate issued: $20
The fee is payable before the issue of the food (export) certificate. If payment for the certificate is not made online or by GIRO, applicant will have to make payment by cheque/NETS/cash card during the collection at the Cashier Counter at 5 Maxwell Road, #02-00, Tower Block, MND Complex, Singapore 069110.
Payment by cheque is to be made payable to the “Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority”.
In the event of the following:
a) An appointment for inspection and sampling is not cancelled at least one working day before the date of inspection and/or the consignment is not ready for inspection and sampling on the appointment date, or
b) The applicant does not make a request for the issue of a food (export) certificate within two months from the date of sampling,
an inspection fee of $38.00 would still be payable.