The Food (Export) Health Certificate is issued by FCD to ACRA companies, 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, business registration No. (ACRA No.), address and postal code, email address and CR No 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 and 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. |
| Helen Ng |
6325 5483 |
| Ng Sim Yam |
6325 0645 |
| Koh Diana |
6325 0781 |
- 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 Control Division 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 samples will be sent to M/s Setsco Services Pte Ltd for microbiological analysis and/or Health Sciences Authority (Centre for Analytical Science) 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 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 Laboratory)
Centre for Analytical Science
11 Outram Road
Singapore 169078
Tel: 6213 0838 Fax: 6213 0749
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 Control Division 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
- Food (Export) Certificate Fee
$90.30 per certificate (in duplicate) per consignment
$6.30 per additional copy of certificate
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 $90.30 would still be payable.
| Question |
: |
| My overseas customers may sometimes require health certificate(s) for the food products that I export to them due to the requirements of their authorities. How can I apply for such certificate? | |
| Answer |
: |
You may apply for health certificates from FCD/AVA if you are exporting processed food products, excluding meat and seafood products that are manufactured, processed or packed in food factories licensed by the division.
For health certificates to be issued, inspection and/or sampling of food from the export consignment will be carried out.
You may refer to the “Terms & Conditions” for the conditions of issue and the procedures of application. | |
| Question |
: |
| How much must I pay for a food export certificate? | |
| Answer |
: |
| The Food (Export) Certificate is charged at $90.30 (inclusive of GST) per certificate (in duplicate) per consignment. Different products will be considered as different consignments. Additional copies are charged at $6.30 (inclusive of GST) each. If laboratory analysis of food sample is involved, the cost of analysis is also to be paid by the applicant. | |
| Question |
: |
| What other certificates can an exporter/trader/forwarder/ manufacturer apply for imported or locally manufactured food? | |
| Answer |
: |
| Another common type of certificate that is issued to imported and locally manufactured food products is the free sale certificate. The applicant should submit an “Online Application for Free Sale Certificate” providing information on the product including product description, common name, full ingredient listing, country of origin, name and address of the manufacturer of the product, quantity and unit of packing. | |
| Question |
: |
| How much must I pay for a free sale certificate? | |
| Answer |
: |
| The free sale certificate is charged at $16.80 (inclusive of GST) per certificate. | |