[1 May 1973]
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 2020 Ed. Section 1. Short title PART 1 PRELIMINARY 2. General interpretation 2A. Meaning of “food” 2B. Meaning of “food business” 2C. Meaning of unsafe food 2D. Meaning of unsuitable food 2E. Meaning of “sell” 2F. Meaning of “non-retail food business” PART 2 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT 3. Administration of Act and appointment of authorised officers, etc. 4. Power of authorised officers to enter, etc. 5. Power to call for information 6. Power to demand and select and take or obtain samples 7. Power to demand samples of milk or food in course of delivery under contract 8. Any person may have sample analysed 9. [Repealed] 10. Certificate of authorised analyst PART 2A FOOD SAFETY MEASURES Division 1 — General provisions 10A. Persons to whom directions may be given 10B. Content and effect of directions 10C. Service of directions under this Part Division 2 — Directions Section 10D. General corrective action direction 10E. Direction to impose movement controls 10F. Direction to recall food or food contact article 10G. Direction to manage food or food contact article 10H. Direction to publish statement Division 3 — Supplementary provisions 10I. Compensation 10J. Appeal to Minister 10K. Non-compliance with food safety measures 10L. Interface with other written laws PART 3 SALE OF FOOD 11. Adulterated food 12. Food containing prohibited substance 13. Food containing substance in excess of permitted proportion 14. Food containing alcohol, etc. 15. Selling unsafe or unsuitable food 16. Offences concerning labelling 16A. Offences involving non-compliant advertising 17. False labelling, etc. 18. Sale of food not of the quality, etc., demanded 19. Sale of food prepared under insanitary conditions 20. Offences under this Part PART 4 NON-RETAIL FOOD BUSINESS 21. Non-retail food business must be licensed 22. Persons with infectious disease not to carry on business 23. Cleanliness of vehicles, equipment, etc. 24. Offences under this Part, powers of arrest and notice to attend court Section 25. Adulteration PART 5 PRESUMPTIONS OF LAW 26. Liability of importer, packer or manufacturer 27. Sale by agent or employee 28. Presumptions as to sale for human consumption PART 6 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 29. Jurisdiction of court 30. Proceedings for offences 31. No defence that purchaser bought for analysis 32. No defence that offence not wilfully committed 33. Reliance on written warranty a good defence 34. Authorised analyst’s certificate to be prima facie evidence 35. [Repealed] 36. Non-disclosure of information 37. Recovery of fees and other expenses incidental to prosecution 38. Fees, etc., payable to Agency 39. Appeal PART 7 SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS 40. Sale of prohibited food contact article 41. Obstruction of authorised officers and interference with official marks 42. Forfeiture of food or food contact article upon conviction 43. Notification of conviction 44. Service of summons, notice, etc. 45. Appeal to Minister against notice, order or decision 46. Licences 47. Notices, receipts, etc., may be given by authorised officer 48. Police officers and authorised officers may demand names and addresses in certain cases 49. General penalties 50. Composition of offences 51. Inaccuracies in documents 52. Evidence Section 53. Forms 54. Exemption from Act 55. Administrative exemption from Act 56. Regulations An Act for regulating food to ensure that food for sale is safe and suitable for human consumption and to promote public health, for ensuring the provision of information relating to food to enable consumers to make informed choices and for preventing misleading conduct in connection with the sale of food. [48/2017]
apparently used to promote, directly or indirectly, the sale of food: (a) any words, whether written or in an audible message; (b) any still or moving picture, sign, symbol or other visual image or representation; (c) any combination of 2 or more of those things in paragraph (a) or (b), but does not include communications of personal opinion made by an individual (for no commercial gain) to the public or a section of the public in relation to any goods or services, brand of goods or services, or person who provides goods or services; “Agency” means the Singapore Food Agency established by the Singapore Food Agency Act 2019; “analysis” includes micro-biological assay, and “analyse” is to be construed accordingly; “authorised analyst” means any person appointed by the Director‑General to be an authorised analyst under section 3(3); “authorised officer” means the Director‑General and any person appointed by the Director‑General to be an authorised officer under section 3(2); “Director‑General” means the Director‑General, Food Administration appointed under section 3(1); “fish” means any species of fish (whether marine or freshwater), and includes — (a) crustacea, shellfish, echinoderm and molluscs; and (b) the eggs and young of any fish; “fish product” means any of the following intended for human consumption: (a) part of any fish; (b) any product derived from processing or preserving fish; (c) any product containing fish; “food” has the meaning given by section 2A; “food business” has the meaning given by section 2B; “food contact article” means the whole or any part of any utensil, machinery, instrument, device, apparatus, container, appliance or article that is used, or that is designed or intended for use, in or in connection with the handling of food, but does not include any pipe, water fitting, apparatus or appliance used for the supply of water by the Public Utilities Board; “food premises” means any premises at, on or from which food is sold, or handled with the intention that it be sold, and includes — (a) a food vending machine; or (b) any premises used for a primary food production business, but does not include any description of premises declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be a food premises; “food regulation” means any regulation made under section 56; “handling”, in relation to food for sale, includes any one or more of the following: (a) making or manufacturing the food; (b) processing or preserving the food; (c) cooking, defrosting, heating or preparing the food; (d) storing, packing or labelling the food; (e) transporting or delivering the food; (f) displaying the food; (g) serving the food, but does not include primary food production; “import”, means to bring or cause to be brought into Singapore by land, water or air from any place which is outside Singapore but does not include the bringing into Singapore by water or air of any goods which it is proved to be intended to be taken out of Singapore on the same vessel or aircraft on which they were brought into Singapore without any landing or transhipment within Singapore; “importer”, in relation to an imported article, includes any person who, whether as owner, consignor, consignee, agent or broker, is in possession of the article or is in any way entitled to the custody or control of the article; “infectious disease” means — (a) any disease set out in the First or Second Schedule to the Infectious Diseases Act 1976; (b) any skin disease which is likely to be contagious; and (c) such other disease as the Minister may prescribe; “insanitary conditions” means such conditions or circumstances as might contaminate any food with dirt or filth or render the same injurious to health or unfit for human consumption; “intended use”, in relation to food, means the use of the food that is specifically stated, or could reasonably be presumed to be intended, taking into account the food’s nature, labelling, packaging and identification; “label” includes any tag, brand, mark or statement in writing or any representation or design or other descriptive matter on or attached to or used or displayed in connection with or accompanying any food or package containing food; “licence” means a licence issued under Part 4; “licensee” means a person who is the holder of a licence; “manufacturing”, in relation to food for sale, includes any one or more of the following: (a) making food by combining ingredients; (b) significantly changing the condition or nature of food by any process, such as milling flour or peeling, cutting and freezing fruits; (c) bottling or canning food, including bottling water; (d) making ice, but does not include — (e) cooking or otherwise preparing food at a particular place for retail sale at the place, including sale for immediate consumption; or (f) making ice at a particular place for use at the place; “meat” includes any part of slaughtered poultry, bovine animal, ovine animal, caprine animal, porcine animal, game or other animal, that is intended for human consumption; “meat product” means any of the following intended for human consumption: (a) offal or other part of a carcase; (b) any product derived from processing or preserving meat; (c) any product containing meat; “non-retail food business” has the meaning given by section 2F; “package” includes every means by which goods may be cased, enclosed, contained or packed; “poison” means any substance deemed to be a poison within the meaning of the Poisons Act 1938; “premises” includes — (a) land (whether or not vacant); (b) the whole or any part of a building, tent, stall or other structure (whether of a permanent or temporary nature); (c) a vehicle; and (d) a pontoon; “prepare” includes manufacture, process and treat; “primary food production” means the growing, raising, cultivation, picking, harvesting, collection or catching of food, and includes the following: (a) the transport or delivery of food on, from or between premises on which it was grown, raised, cultivated, picked, harvested, collected or caught; (b) the packing, treating (for example, washing) or storing of food on the premises on which it was grown, raised, cultivated, picked, harvested, collected or caught; (c) the storage of food in a silo that is not connected with a food processing operation and the transport or delivery of food from, between or to such silos; (d) the sale of livestock at sale yards and the transport of livestock to and from sale yards; (e) any other food production activity that is prescribed as primary food production for the purposes of this Act, but does not include — (f) any process involving the substantial transformation of food (for example, manufacturing or canning), regardless of whether the process is carried out on the premises on which the food was grown, raised, cultivated, picked, harvested, collected or caught; (g) the sale or service of food directly to the public; or (h) any other food production activity that is declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be primary food production for the purposes of this Act; “primary food production business” means a business or an undertaking or activity that involves, in whole or part, primary food production; “proprietor” means — (a) for a food business — (i) the person carrying on the food business; or (ii) if the person in sub‑paragraph (i) cannot be identified, the person in charge of the food business; and (b) for any food premises — the proprietor of the food business that operates at, on or from the premises; “public health” means the health of — (a) the people in Singapore; or (b) a community or section of those people; “requirement of this Act” means — (a) a requirement of or under a provision of this Act; (b) a requirement of or under any food regulation; (c) a requirement of a notice or order given by the Director‑General under this Act; (d) a requirement of a direction given by the Director‑General under Part 2A; or (e) a condition imposed by or under this Act or any food regulation; “retail food business” means a business or an undertaking or activity at a food establishment within the meaning of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 which is used for a purpose specified in the First Schedule to that Act; “sell” has the meaning given by section 2E; “statutory authority” means a body corporate established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function, and includes a Town Council; “substance” includes any liquid, mixture or compound; “unsafe”, in relation to food, has the meaning given by
“unsuitable”, in relation to food, has the meaning given by section 2D; “vehicle” means any means of transport, whether self-propelled or not, and whether used on land or sea or in the air, such as an aircraft, a vessel, train, motor vehicle or personal mobility device. [48/2017; 11/2019] (a) any substance or thing of a kind used, capable of being used, or represented as being for use, for human consumption (whether it is live, raw, prepared or partly prepared); (b) any substance or thing of a kind used, capable of being used, or represented as being for use, as an ingredient or additive in a substance or thing mentioned in paragraph (a); (c) any substance used in preparing a substance or thing mentioned in paragraph (a) (other than a substance used in preparing a living thing); (d) chewing gum or an ingredient or additive in chewing gum, or any substance used in preparing chewing gum; (e) any substance or thing declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette to be food. [48/2017]
Without limiting subsection (1), “food” includes — (a) unprocessed and raw fruits and vegetables that are intended for human consumption; (b) seeds, plants, or plant material intended for human consumption, including seeds that are intended to be sprouted and consumed as sprouts, but not other seeds, plants, or plant material intended for planting; (c) drinking water; (d) any thing that is or is intended to be mixed with or added to any food or drink; (e) milk and dairy products; (f) meat and meat products; (g) fish and fish products; and (h) eggs. [48/2017]
However, food does not include — (a) any health product within the meaning of the Health Products Act 2007; (b) any substance that is a medicinal product within the meaning of the Medicines Act 1975; (c) any controlled drug, psychoactive substance, controlled material or controlled substance within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973; [Act 12 of 2023 wef 01/06/2024] (d) any poison within the meaning of the Poisons Act 1938; (e) any cosmetics; (f) any tobacco product or tobacco substitute within the meaning of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993; (g) any package (except edible packaging); (h) any fodder or feeding stuffs for animals; or (i) any substance or thing declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be food for the purposes of this Act. [48/2017]
A substance, thing or chewing gum described in subsection (1) is food regardless of whether or not it is in a condition fit for human consumption. [48/2017]
To avoid doubt, “food” may include live animals and plants. [48/2017] (a) the handling of food intended for sale; (b) the sale of food (on the Internet or otherwise); or (c) primary food production, regardless of whether the business, undertaking or activity concerned is of a commercial, charitable or community nature, or whether it involves the handling or sale of food on one occasion only, and whether part of a non‑retail food business or a retail food business. [48/2017]
However, a food business does not include a business or an undertaking or activity — (a) that is part of a business other than trading in food and, in the course of which doing so, acts as an intermediary between persons who trade in food by providing, for reward, a place (including mobile premises) or services (such as an Internet service provider or an auction site on the Internet); (b) that consists exclusively of letting for hire marquees, tables, chairs and other similar furniture; or (c) that is declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette not to be a food business for the purposes of this Act. [48/2017] (a) it was, after that particular time and before being consumed by the person, properly subjected to all processes (if any) that are relevant to its reasonable intended use; (b) nothing happened to it after that particular time and before being consumed by the person that would prevent it being used for its reasonable intended use; and (c) it was consumed by the person according to its reasonable intended use. [48/2017]
However, food is not unsafe for the purposes of this Act merely because — (a) any individual objects to it because of personal preference; (b) any part of the community objects to it on moral, ethical, cultural, spiritual, or religious grounds; (c) its consumption in inappropriate quantities may damage an individual’s health; or (d) its presence or consumption is unhealthy for any individual who has an allergy or other personal health condition. [48/2017]
In subsection (1)(a), a reference to processes includes a reference to processes involving storage and preparation. [48/2017] (a) is damaged, deteriorated or perished to an extent that affects its reasonable intended use; (b) contains, or has attached to it or enclosed with it, any damaged, deteriorated, perished or contaminated substance or thing to an extent that affects its reasonable intended use; (c) is the product of a diseased animal, or an animal that has died otherwise than by slaughter, and has not been declared by or under another Act to be safe for human consumption; (d) contains a biological or chemical agent, or other matter or substance, that is foreign to the nature of the food and the presence of which would be unexpected and unreasonable in food prepared or packed for sale in accordance with good trade practice; or (e) has packaging that is damaged, deteriorated, perished or contaminated to the extent of affecting the food’s reasonable intended use. [48/2017]
However, food is not unsuitable for the purposes of this Act merely because — (a) at any particular time before it is sold for human consumption it contains an agricultural or veterinary chemical; (b) when it is sold for human consumption it contains an agricultural or veterinary chemical or other contaminant, so long as it does not contain the chemical or contaminant in an amount that contravenes any food regulations; (c) any individual objects to it because of personal preference; (d) any part of the community objects to it on moral, ethical, cultural, spiritual, or religious grounds; (e) its consumption in inappropriate quantities may damage an individual’s health; or (f) its presence or consumption is unhealthy for any individual who has an allergy or other personal health condition. [48/2017]
In this section, a reference to slaughter of an animal includes a reference to the killing of an animal in the process of capturing, taking or harvesting it for the purposes of preparing it for use as food. [48/2017] (a) bartering; (b) offering for sale or attempting to sell; (c) receiving, or having in possession, for sale; (d) displaying for sale; (e) causing or permitting to be sold or offered or displayed for sale; (f) sending, forwarding or delivering for sale; (g) disposing of by any method for valuable consideration; (h) disposing of to an agent for sale on consignment; (i) supplying as a meal or part of a meal to an employee or other individual in accordance with an employment agreement or an agreement for services under a contract of service for consumption by the employee or individual at the employee’s or individual’s place of work; (j) disposing of by way of raffle, lottery or other game of chance; (k) offering as a prize or reward; (l) offering or giving away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of any trade or business; (m) supplying under a contract (whether or not the contract is made with the consumer of the food), together with any accommodation, service or entertainment, in consideration of an inclusive charge for the food supplied and the accommodation, service or entertainment; (n) supplying food (whether or not for consideration) in the course of providing services — (i) to patients in hospitals, hospices and other residential care facilities like nursing homes; (ii) to children or other individuals in the care or custody of the supplier by virtue of any Act; or (iii) to prisoners or inmates in prisons or other places for the detention of individuals under any Act; (o) supplying anything of which any food forms a part; (p) selling for the purpose of resale for handling or human consumption. [48/2017]
Despite subsection (1), in this Act, “sell”, in relation to food, does not include — (a) exchanging food for food or other goods or services as part of a personal relationship between individuals that is not commercial in nature; or (b) supplying food together with accommodation to a person residing at a private residence in exchange for services or labour by the person. [48/2017]
For the purposes of this Act — (a) food that is displayed for the purpose of being offered as a prize or reward or given away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of trade or business is taken to have been displayed for sale by the owner of the food; (b) food that is donated for a charitable or benevolent purpose is not to be taken to be food that was given away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of trade or business; (c) food which is exposed or deposited in any premises for the purpose of being so offered as a prize or reward or given away is taken to have been exposed for sale by the occupier of the premises; (d) food that is sold for the purpose of being mixed with any other food is to be treated, unless the contrary is proved, as sale if the bulk or product produced by the mixing, or any part of the bulk or product, is intended to be sold; and (e) food that is sold, offered for sale, or displayed for sale is to be treated, unless the contrary is proved, as a sale, offer for sale or display for sale of the food for human consumption. [48/2017] (a) not carried out for a purpose specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Public Health Act 1987; and (b) not a primary food production business, but includes a food business a component of which is a business, an undertaking or activity carried out for a purpose specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Public Health Act 1987. [48/2017]
Without limiting subsection (1), a non‑retail food business includes (but is not limited to) any of the following food businesses: (a) a factory, plant or other premises where meat products or fish products are processed for sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (b) the preparing or packing of ready-to-eat salads for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (c) the manufacturing, preparing or packing of chilled, frozen and shelf-stable meals, condiments or prepared foods for sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (d) the manufacturing, preparing (including by cutting, mincing, boning, drying, smoking or fermentation after slaughter or harvesting) or packing of meat, poultry or fish products for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (e) the manufacturing of bottled drinking water or non‑alcoholic beverages, for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (f) brewers and distillers of vinegar, soya sauce or fish sauce for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (g) wholesale bakeries supplying food prepared to wholesalers or retail food businesses; (h) the processing or packing of herbs or spices for the purpose of sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (i) manufacturing or preparing (including by blending and packing) dry mix products such as cake mix, drinking chocolate, tea bags and powdered soup for sale to wholesalers or retail food businesses, or for export; (j) a wholesale market where any animal, meat product, fish or fish product is sold wholesale or through auction; (k) central kitchens supplying food prepared, cooked and packed for the purpose of distribution to retail food businesses; (l) an operator of a warehouse or cold storage facility for the storage of food intended for sale, whether by wholesalers or retail food businesses. [48/2017]
In subsection (2)(c), “shelf-stable”, in relation to food, means that — (a) the food can be stored at room or ambient temperature before its packaging is opened; and (b) the food may or may not require refrigeration after its packaging is opened. [48/2017]
responsible for the administration of this Act, subject to the general or special directions of the Minister. [11/2019]
The Director‑General may in writing appoint any public officer or any officer of the Agency or any other statutory authority, or an auxiliary police officer appointed under the Police Force Act 2004, to be an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act. [11/2019]
The Director‑General may appoint one or more persons with the prescribed qualifications and practical experience to be authorised analysts for the purposes of this Act.
The Director‑General may delegate the exercise of all or any of the powers conferred or duties imposed upon the Director‑General by this Act (except the power of delegation conferred by this subsection) to any authorised officer. [11/2019]
The Director‑General may, for any reason that appears to the Director‑General to be sufficient, at any time revoke a person’s appointment as an authorised officer or authorised analyst. [11/2019]
An auxiliary police officer who is appointed as an authorised officer does not, by virtue only of the appointment, become an employee or agent of the Agency. [11/2019]
(a) at any reasonable time enter and inspect any place where that authorised officer has reason to believe that there is any food or food contact article intended for sale; (b) inspect any food or food contact article wherever found which that authorised officer has reason to believe is intended for sale; (c) open and examine any receptacle or package which that authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing to contain any article to which this Act applies; (d) mark, seal or otherwise secure, weigh, count or measure any food or food contact article the sale, preparation or manufacture of which is, or appears to be, contrary or not in compliance with an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food or food contact articles; (e) seize any food or food contact article wherever found which is or appears to be unwholesome or deleterious to health or which is contrary or not in compliance with an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food or food contact articles; and any article seized under this Act may at the option of an authorised officer be kept or stored in the building or place where it was seized or may at the direction of an authorised officer be removed to any other proper place; (f) require any person selling or manufacturing any food or food contact article or that person’s agent or employee to state that person’s name and place of residence; and (g) destroy any food wherever found which is decayed or putrefied or deleterious to health. [48/2017]
Any person claiming anything seized under this section may within 48 hours after the seizure complain thereof to a Magistrate’s Court, and the complaint may be heard and determined by that Court, which may either confirm or disallow the seizure wholly or in part and may order the article seized to be restored.
If within 48 hours after such seizure no complaint has been made, or if the seizure is confirmed, the article seized becomes the property of the Agency and must be destroyed or otherwise disposed of so as to prevent it being used for human consumption. [11/2019]
Where the seizure of any food or food contact article is made under subsection (1)(e), the authorised officer making the seizure has to immediately give written notice of the seizure in the form prescribed or designed under section 53 to the owner or to the consignor or consignee or to the owner’s agent of the thing seized, if the name and address of the owner, consignor, consignee or agent are attached to that food or food contact article or are otherwise known to the authorised officer and the address is in Singapore. [48/2017]
(a) to produce to the authorised officer for inspection any document or record or copies or extracts of any document or record which the authorised officer believes on reasonable grounds contains any information relevant to the administration or enforcement of this Act; or (b) to furnish any information as the authorised officer may reasonably require. [48/2017]
Any of the authorised officers mentioned in subsection (1) may make, or cause to be made, copies of, or extracts from, any such document or record.
The copies or extracts certified as such by any authorised officer are, unless the contrary is proved, deemed to be true and correct copies or extracts.
Any person, who refuses or neglects to comply with any requisition made under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Except for the purpose of carrying into effect this Act, any authorised officer who — (a) does not maintain the secrecy of all matters which come to his or her knowledge in the performance of his or her official duties under this section; or (b) communicates any such matter to any person, shall be guilty of an offence.
The powers conferred under subsection (1) may only be exercised by an authorised officer — (a) to determine whether an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food, food contact articles or food businesses has been, or is being, complied with; (b) to ensure that an applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food, food contact articles and food businesses has been, or is being, or will be, complied with; (c) to investigate anything that may have, or might potentially have, contaminated food or a food contact article; (d) to determine whether food or a food contact article is safe or suitable; (e) to determine whether food or a food contact article poses a risk to human life or public health; or (f) to investigate any offence under this Act or any contravention of or non‑compliance with an applicable requirement of this Act. [48/2017]
demand and select and take or obtain such samples for the purpose of analysis or examination. [48/2017]
Any such authorised officer may require that person or that person’s agent or employee to show and permit the inspection of the package in which the food or food contact article is at the time kept, and may take therefrom the samples demanded. [48/2017]
Where any food or food contact article is kept for retail sale in an unopened package, a person must not be required by any authorised officer to sell less than the whole of the contents of that package. [48/2017]
Any person who refuses or neglects to comply with any demand or requisition made by an authorised officer under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
(a) any sample of any milk in course of delivery to the purchaser or consignee pursuant to any contract for the sale to such purchaser or consignee of that milk; and (b) upon the request or with the consent of the purchaser or consignee, at the place of delivery, any sample of any other article of food in course of delivery to the purchaser or consignee pursuant to any contract for the sale to the purchaser or consignee of that article of food.
The seller or consignor or any person entrusted by the seller or consignor for the time being with the charge of such milk or other article of food, if the seller, consignor or person entrusted refuses to allow an authorised officer to take the quantity which the authorised officer requires for the purpose of analysis or examination, shall be guilty of an offence.
[48/2017]
analyst. [48/2017]
A copy of the result of any analysis of any food or food contact article procured by an authorised officer may be obtained from the authorised analyst by the person from whom the article so analysed was purchased or obtained, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed. [48/2017]
A person who uses a copy of the result of an analysis mentioned in paragraph (2) as an advertisement shall be guilty of an offence.
FOOD SAFETY MEASURES
(a) a licensee; (b) a proprietor of a food business or food premises, if not a licensee; (c) an importer of any food or food contact article; (d) an exporter of any food or food contact article; (e) a manufacturer of any food contact article; (f) a person carrying on a business of selling or supplying (by wholesale or retail) any food contact article; (g) a person in control of, or reasonably appearing to be in control of, food or any thing that may become food. [48/2017; 11/2019] (a) the person to whom it is addressed; and (b) if applicable, the personal representatives, successors and assignees of the person to whom it is addressed to the same extent as it applies to that person. [48/2017]
A direction under this Part must be in writing, or be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable after being given orally. [48/2017]
In making a direction under this Part, it is not necessary for the Director‑General to give any person who may be affected by the direction a chance to be heard before the direction is given. [48/2017; 11/2019]
A direction under this Part must state — (a) whether the person to whom it is given must — (i) advise the Director‑General of the details of the manner in which the person proposes to comply with the direction; (ii) keep information about the matters that are the subject of the direction; (iii) regularly notify the Director‑General about the steps being taken towards compliance with the direction; or (iv) give written notice to the Director‑General when the person has complied with the direction; (b) that it is an offence under this Act to fail to comply with the direction; (c) that if the person to whom the direction is given fails to comply with it, the Director‑General may carry out the direction; and (d) that if the Director‑General carries out the direction, the Director‑General may recover the costs reasonably incurred in carrying out the direction from the person to whom the direction was given. [48/2017; 11/2019]
A direction under this Part continues in force until the earlier of the following occurs: (a) the expiry date (if any) stated in the direction is reached; (b) the Director‑General revokes the direction. [48/2017; 11/2019]
A direction under this Part may — (a) be amended or revoked at any time; and (b) be extended or renewed, if the Director‑General is satisfied that the circumstances warrant it. [48/2017; 11/2019]
If a person to whom the direction is given fails or refuses to comply with it, the Director‑General may carry out the direction, and recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out the direction as a debt due from the person to whom the direction was given. [48/2017; 11/2019]
If satisfied that a direction under this Part has been complied with, the Director‑General must — (a) revoke the direction; and (b) give written notice of the revocation in the same manner in which the direction was given or served. [48/2017; 11/2019]
Subsection (5) does not prevent a further direction being made in the same terms as a direction that has expired. [48/2017] (a) delivered personally to the person by an authorised officer; (b) served in the manner prescribed in section 44; or (c) if the name and address of the proprietor of any food premises is unknown, affixed to the food premises. [48/2017]
A direction under this Part that is addressed to a class of persons is sufficiently served if it is — (a) served on each of the persons in the class in accordance with subsection (1); or (b) published both — (i) in a daily newspaper circulating in Singapore or in any other news media that, in the opinion of the Director‑General, will be most likely to bring the direction to the attention of the persons who belong to the class; and (ii) on the Agency’s official website. [48/2017; 11/2019]
A direction under this Part that is addressed to a statutory authority is sufficiently served if it is served on the chief executive (however described) of the statutory authority in accordance with subsection (1). [48/2017]
A direction under this Part that is served — (a) in accordance with subsection (1) takes effect when it is served; (b) in accordance with subsection (2)(a) takes effect when it is served on all the persons in the class in question; and (c) in accordance with subsection (2)(b) takes effect at the beginning of the day after the date on which subsection (2)(b) has been complied with. [48/2017]
respect to food or food contact articles. [48/2017; 11/2019]
Without limiting subsection (1), “corrective action”, in the case of a direction given to a food business, includes requiring the proprietor of the food business to do any one or more of the following: (a) take specified steps to ensure that food raised, cultivated, harvested, caught, prepared, sold or otherwise handled at the premises at which the food business is carried out is safe and suitable; (b) take specified steps to ensure that those premises, or any vehicle, plant, food contact article, machinery or equipment used on those premises in connection with any food raised, cultivated, harvested, caught, prepared, sold or otherwise handled at those premises is cleaned and disinfected or put into an altered condition to the satisfaction of an authorised officer; (c) ensure that any applicable requirement of this Act with respect to food or food contact articles is complied with; (d) until the corrective action in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is complied with, ensure that — (i) the premises at which the food business is carried out, or a specified area of the premises, is not used for the raising, cultivation, harvesting, catching, preparation, sale or other handling of food or an activity connected with food specified in the direction; (ii) any vehicle, plant, food contact article, machinery or equipment on those premises is not used in connection with the raising, cultivation, harvesting, catching, preparation, sale or other handling of food or an activity connected with food specified in the direction; or (iii) any food or class of food specified in the direction is not removed from those premises, for any purpose (including any purpose specified in the direction) or in any circumstances specified in the direction, for the period of time that is specified in the direction. [48/2017] (a) that food or any thing that may become food, or a food contact article, does not comply with an applicable requirement of this Act; or (b) the existence of a hazard or a source of contamination that may affect food or any thing that may become food. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The direction may impose movement or related controls to determine, minimise, manage, or control the risk to human life or public health created by the suspected non‑compliance or suspected existence of the hazard or the source of contamination. [48/2017]
A direction under this section must specify the suspected non‑compliance, hazard or source of contamination, including by reference to — (a) a thing described in subsection (4); (b) a place (where, for example, there may be contamination from the land or the environment); or (c) a particular person or food business or a specified class of food business (where, for example, the contamination may have been caused by a human act or omission). [48/2017]
The controls may be imposed on all or any of the following: (a) activities; (b) areas or premises; (c) food contact articles; (d) vehicles; (e) food; (f) any thing that may become food; (g) food businesses; (h) anything else that the Director‑General suspects relates to the suspected non‑compliance or the suspected hazard or the source of suspected contamination. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The controls on those things described in subsection (4) may do all or any of the following in relation to a food contact article, or food or any thing that may become food: (a) restrict its movement, sale, production, manufacturing or handling; (b) apply conditions to its movement, sale, production, manufacturing or handling; (c) prohibit its movement, sale, production, manufacturing or handling; (d) require the taking of specific actions such as sampling and testing to determine the risk (if any) to human life or public health; (e) require the taking of specific actions to minimise, manage, or control the risk to human life or public health; (f) do anything else that is necessary to achieve the purpose described in subsection (2). [48/2017]
A direction under this section may — (a) direct the keeping of information about the matters that are the subject of the direction; (b) direct the provision of reports about matters that are the subject of the direction; or (c) direct the person to whom the direction is given to notify the Director‑General when — (i) the non-compliance, hazard, or source of contamination has been identified; (ii) the non-compliance, hazard, or source of contamination has been minimised or removed; or (iii) no non-compliance, hazard, or source of contamination has been identified. [48/2017; 11/2019]
In this section, “hazard” means a biological, chemical or physical agent that — (a) is in food or has the potential to be in food, or is a condition of food, or has the potential to affect the condition of food; and (b) causes or could cause an adverse or injurious effect on human life or public health. [48/2017] (a) for the purpose of examining, rectifying, controlling, or disposing of food or a food contact article, after taking into account any relevant information or warnings about food or a food contact article that the Director‑General has received from authorised officers, or an international organisation or authority; or (b) if the Director‑General has reasonable grounds to believe that the direction is necessary — (i) to prevent or reduce the possibility of a serious danger to public health; or (ii) to mitigate the adverse consequences of a serious danger to public health. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The directions are — (a) to recall food or a food contact article that is not safe or suitable or the safety or suitability of which is in doubt; (b) to recall a food contact article that has, or for which there is doubt about whether it has, contaminated food or caused food to be no longer safe or suitable; (c) to recall a food contact article if there is doubt about whether it may contaminate food; (d) to recall food or a food contact article that is mislabelled or incorrectly identified; (e) to take food or a food contact article recalled under any of paragraphs (a) to (d) to — (i) a place specified in the directions; or (ii) a place agreed to between the Director‑General and the person to whom the directions are given; or (f) any directions that may be given under section 10G, as appropriate. [48/2017; 11/2019]
A direction to recall food or a food contact article may specify the manner in which, and must specify the period within which, the recall is to be conducted and completed. [48/2017]
A person who is required by a direction to recall food or a food contact article must give written notice to the Director‑General of the completion of the recall as soon as practicable after that completion. [48/2017; 11/2019]
If a person to whom the direction is given under this section fails or refuses to comply with it, the Director‑General may — (a) take any reasonable steps necessary to ensure control of the food or food contact article (including entry by authorised officers to a place under a warrant); and (b) recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in assuming control of the food or food contact article as a debt due from the person to whom the direction was given. [48/2017; 11/2019]
This section does not prevent the Agency exercising its power under section 10I. [48/2017; 11/2019] (a) reasonably believes that food or a food contact article that is already the subject of a direction under section 10E is not safe or suitable and further controls are required; or (b) recalls food or a food contact article under section 10F. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The direction may be about doing or not doing any of the following to the food or food contact article: (a) condemning or destroying it; (b) disposing of or re-exporting it; (c) identifying it; (d) handling, or re-processing it; (e) labelling or relabelling it; (f) storing it; (g) transporting it; (h) sampling or testing it; (i) advertising or selling it. [48/2017] [48/2017; 11/2019]
The Director‑General may specify that the statement must include all or any of the following: (a) the nature of the problem, including (where applicable) — (i) the particular food or type of food or food contact article to be recalled or disposed of; (ii) the reasons why the food or food contact article is considered to be unsafe or unsuitable; and (iii) the circumstances in which the consumption of the food is unsafe; (b) the remedy that the person will provide; (c) the way in which the person will prevent the problem arising in future. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The Director‑General may specify the actual words to be used in the statement or any part of it. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The Director‑General may specify all or any of the following: (a) who must publish the statement; (b) where the statement must be published; (c) the date on which the statement must be published. [48/2017; 11/2019]
Statements published under this section are protected by absolute privilege. [48/2017]
grounds for the making of the direction. [48/2017; 11/2019]
If there were insufficient grounds for the making of the direction, the Agency is to pay just and reasonable compensation to the applicant. [48/2017; 11/2019]
The Agency must send written notification of the Agency’s determination as to the payment of compensation under this section to each applicant for the payment of compensation. [48/2017; 11/2019]
If the Agency has not determined an application for compensation under this section within 28 days after receiving the application, the Agency is taken to have refused to pay any compensation. [48/2017; 11/2019]
An applicant for the payment of compensation under this section who is dissatisfied with a determination by the Agency as to the refusal to pay compensation or as to the amount of compensation may apply to the District Court for a review of the determination — (a) within 14 days after the day on which notification of the determination was received; or (b) in a case to which subsection (4) applies, within 14 days after the 28‑day period mentioned in that subsection ends. [48/2017; 11/2019]
If the amount of compensation sought exceeds the jurisdictional limit of the District Court, the application under subsection (5) is to be made to the General Division of the High Court. [48/2017; 40/2019]
No application for the payment of compensation may be made under this section after the 14‑day period mentioned in subsection (5)(a) or (b) ends. [48/2017] appeal to the Minister. [48/2017]
An appeal under this section must be in writing and specify the grounds on which it is made, and be made within a prescribed period after the date of receipt of the decision that is appealed against. [48/2017]
The Minister’s decision on appeal is final. [48/2017]
The Minister may designate to hear and determine, in the Minister’s place, any appeals or a specific appeal under this section — (a) any Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, for his or her Ministry; or (b) any Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary, for his or her Ministry, and any reference in this section to the Minister includes a reference to the Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary so designated for that appeal. [48/2017] (a) carry on an activity in contravention of the direction; (b) neglect or refuse to comply with any such direction; or (c) fail to comply with a condition specified in such a direction. [48/2017]
A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. [48/2017]
A person must not remove the copy of any direction affixed to any food premises under section 10C(1)(c) while that direction remains in force. [48/2017]
A person who contravenes subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. [48/2017] (a) the Animals and Birds Act 1965; (b) the Control of Plants Act 1993; (c) the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act 1998; (d) the Environmental Public Health Act 1987; (e) the Feeding Stuffs Act 1965; (f) the Fisheries Act 1966; (g) the Health Products Act 2007; (h) the Medicines Act 1975; (i) the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973; (j) the Poisons Act 1938; or (k) the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act 1999. [48/2017; 11/2019]
[48/2017]
A person must not sell food that the person knows or ought reasonably to know is unsuitable. [48/2017]
For the purposes of subsection (2), it is immaterial whether the food concerned is safe. [48/2017]
food. [48/2017]
In a prosecution for an offence under section 20 for contravening subsection (1), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the accused intended to commit the offence. [48/2017] (a) does not comply with all applicable requirements of this Act relating to advertisements promoting the food or that prescribed food contact article; (b) is false as to the age, composition, effects, nature, origin, purity, quality or strength of the food or the safety or suitability of the food or that prescribed food contact article; (c) is likely to deceive a buyer as to the age, composition, effects, nature, origin, purity, quality or strength of the food or the safety or suitability of the food or that prescribed food contact article; (d) is prohibited by an applicable requirement of this Act from being marked or attached to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article, or packages containing that kind of food; (e) makes a statement prohibited by an applicable requirement of this Act to be made in an advertisement relating to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article; (f) expressly or impliedly qualifies, or is contrary to, details required by an applicable requirement of this Act to be marked or attached to the kind of food, or packages containing that kind of food or that prescribed food contact article; (g) omits from the name or description of the food or the prescribed food contact article any word or words required by an applicable requirement of this Act to be included in the name or description marked on or attached to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article, or packages containing that kind of food; (h) fails to make a statement required by an applicable requirement of this Act to be made in an advertisement relating to the kind of food or that prescribed food contact article; or (i) fails to show, in an advertisement shown on a screen, a word or words or statement required by paragraph (g) or (h) in clearly legible lettering for a sufficient length of time for an ordinary viewer to read them. [48/2017]
A person who is — (a) the person selling, promoting the sale, or appearing to promote the sale of any food or prescribed food contact article; or (b) the agent or employee of the person selling, promoting the sale, or appearing to promote the sale of any food or prescribed food contact article, must not publish an advertisement described in subsection (1) relating to the food or that prescribed food contact article. [48/2017]
In a prosecution for an offence under section 20 for contravening subsection (2), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the accused intended to commit the offence. [48/2017]
In a prosecution for an offence under section 20 for contravening subsection (2) concerning an advertisement of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(b), the advertisement is taken to be false as to the relevant matter in that subsection unless evidence is adduced by the accused to the contrary. [48/2017]
To avoid doubt, subsection (4) does not — (a) have the effect that, merely because such evidence to the contrary is adduced, the advertisement is not false as to the relevant matter in subsection (1)(b); or (b) have the effect of placing on any person the onus of proving that the advertisement is not false as to the relevant matter in subsection (1)(b). [48/2017]
Without affecting section 32, in any proceedings for an offence under section 20 in relation to the publication of an advertisement in contravention of subsection (2), it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities — (a) that — (i) the accused was acting in the course of a business of delivering, transmitting or broadcasting communications (in whatever form or by whatever means) or making data available; and (ii) the nature of the business is such that persons undertaking it have no control over the nature or content of the communications or data; or (b) that the accused — (i) carried on the business of publishing or arranging for the publication of advertisements; and (ii) published or arranged for the publication of the advertisement in question in the ordinary course of that business. [48/2017]
However, subsection (6) does not apply if the accused concerned — (a) ought reasonably to have known that the publication of the advertisement was an offence under this Part; (b) had previously been informed in writing by or on behalf of the Director‑General that publication of such an advertisement would constitute an offence under this Part; or (c) is the proprietor of a food business or is otherwise engaged in the conduct of a food business for which the advertisements concerned were published. [48/2017; 11/2019]
NON-RETAIL FOOD BUSINESS [48/2017]
[48/2017]
(a) any person to whom a licence has been issued under this Part (called in this Act a licensee); (b) any assistant or employee of the licensee; or (c) any applicant for a licence under this Part, to submit to medical examination.
If such licensee, assistant, employee or applicant is suffering from or is suspected to be suffering from an infectious disease or is suspected to be a carrier thereof, the Director‑General may require the licensee, assistant, employee or applicant to undergo treatment.
The Director‑General may require that treatment to be obtained at any hospital as the Director‑General may think fit.
The Director‑General may require any licensee or any assistant or employee of the licensee to submit to immunisation against any infectious disease.
Every licensee must ensure that the licensee’s assistant or employee is immunised against any infectious disease as required by the Director‑General.
The Director‑General may, at any time, revoke or suspend any licence issued under this Part if — (a) the licensee is suffering from an infectious disease; (b) the licensee knowingly employs any person who is suffering from or is suspected to be suffering from an infectious disease; (c) the licensee or the licensee’s assistant or employee refuses to comply with any requisition made by the Director‑General under subsection (1), (2) or (3); or (d) the licensee does not comply with subsection (5).
The Director‑General may, by written notice, require any person who uses a vehicle to transport food to use or install in or on the vehicle any device or equipment as the Director‑General may think fit to ensure that the food carried in or on the vehicle will not be contaminated.
Despite subsection (1) or any other written law for the time being in force, any police officer or authorised officer who, having effected an arrest under subsection (1), is satisfied as to the identity, name and place of residence of the person arrested, may, instead of taking the person before a Magistrate’s Court or to a police station, serve upon that person a notice in such form as may be required under section 53 requiring that person to attend at the Court described at the hour and on the date specified in the notice.
For the purpose of satisfying himself or herself as to the identity of the person arrested, the police officer or authorised officer may require the person arrested to furnish any evidence of identity as the police officer or authorised officer may consider necessary.
A duplicate of the notice served under subsection (2) must be prepared by the police officer or authorised officer (as the case may be) and produced by the police officer or authorised officer to a Magistrate’s Court if so required by the Court.
On an accused appearing before a Magistrate’s Court under such a notice, the Court is to take cognizance of the offence alleged and is to proceed as though the accused were produced before it under subsection (1).
If a person upon whom a notice under subsection (2) has been served fails to appear before a Magistrate’s Court in accordance with the notice, the Court is to then issue a warrant for the arrest of that person.
Where a person is arrested under subsection (6), a Magistrate’s Court is to proceed as though the person were produced before it under subsection (1). [Act 31 of 2022 wef 01/11/2022]
(a) it contains or is mixed or diluted with any substance which diminishes in any manner its nutritive or other beneficial properties as compared with such food in a pure and normal state and in an undeteriorated and sound condition, or which in any other manner operates or may operate to the prejudice or disadvantage of the purchaser or consumer; (b) any substance or ingredient has been extracted or omitted from it, and by reason of such extraction or omission the nutritive or other beneficial properties of the food as sold are less than those of the food in its pure and normal state or the purchaser or consumer is or may be in any manner prejudiced; (c) it contains or is mixed or diluted with any substance of lower commercial value than such food in a pure and normal state and in an undeteriorated and sound condition; (d) it does not comply with the prescribed standard; or (e) it contains any substance which renders the food injurious to health.
[48/2017]
(a) every person is deemed to sell any food or food contact article who sells the food or food contact article either on the person’s own account or as the agent or employee of any other person; and (b) in the case of any sale by an agent or employee, the agent’s or employee’s principal or employer shall be under the same liability as if the principal or employer had effected the sale personally. [48/2017]
[48/2017]
The purchase and sale of a sample of any food under this Act for the purpose of analysis or examination is deemed to be a purchase and sale of such food for human consumption or use, unless the seller proves that the bulk from which the sample was taken was not offered, exposed or intended for sale for human consumption or use.
For the purposes of this Act every person is deemed to sell or to intend to sell any food if the person sells or intends to sell for human consumption any article of which the food is a constituent.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
A copy of the authorised analyst’s certificate (if any) on which the prosecution is based, must be served with the summons.
[48/2017]
wilfully, unless the accused also proves that the accused took all reasonable steps to ascertain that the sale of the food or food contact article would not constitute an offence under this Act. [48/2017]
(a) the accused purchased the food or food contact article sold by the accused in reliance on a written warranty or other written statement as to the nature of the food or food contact article purchased, signed by or on behalf of the person from whom the accused purchased the food or food contact article; (b) the accused had no reason to believe that the food or food contact article sold did not conform to such warranty or statement; and (c) if the food or food contact article had truly conformed to such warranty or statement, the sale of the food or food contact article by the accused would not have constituted the offence charged against the accused. [48/2017]
No warranty or other written statement given or made by a person resident outside Singapore is a defence under this section, unless the accused proves that the accused had taken reasonable steps to ascertain and did in fact believe in the truth of the matters set out in such warranty or statement.
No warranty or other written statement is a defence in any prosecution, unless the accused has, within 7 days after service of the summons, delivered to the prosecutor a copy of the warranty or statement with a written notice stating that the accused intends to rely on the warranty or statement and specifying the name and address of the person from whom the accused received it, and has also within the same time sent by registered post a like notice of the accused’s intention to such person.
When the accused is an employee or agent of the person who purchased the food or food contact article under such a warranty or written statement, the accused is, if the accused further proves that the accused had no reason to believe that the article did not conform to the warranty or statement, entitled to the benefit of this section in the same manner and to the same extent as the accused’s employer or principal would have been, if the accused’s employer or principal had been the accused. [48/2017]
Any person who in respect of any food or food contact article sold by the person as principal or agent gives to the purchaser a false written warranty shall be guilty of an offence, unless that person proves to the satisfaction of the court that when that person gave the warranty that person had reason to believe that the statements or descriptions contained in the warranty were true. [48/2017]
In like manner the production by the accused of a certificate of analysis purporting to be under the hand of an authorised analyst is sufficient evidence of the facts stated in the certificate, unless the prosecutor requires the authorised analyst to be called as a witness.
A copy of the certificate mentioned in subsection (2) must be sent to the prosecutor at least 3 clear days before the day fixed for the hearing of the summons, and, if it is not so sent, the District Court or the Magistrate’s Court (as the case may be) may adjourn the hearing on any terms that it thinks proper.
information or the nature of the information or the name of any person who gave the information.
An authorised officer appearing as a prosecutor or witness must not be compelled to produce any confidential report or document made or received by him or her in his or her official capacity or to make any statement in relation to that report or document.
expenses incurred by the prosecution, must be paid by the person convicted. [48/2017; 11/2019]
All such fees and expenses are recoverable in the same manner as a fine is recoverable.
[48/2017; 11/2019]
appeal to the General Division of the High Court against that sentence or order. [40/2019]
the import, advertising or sale of any food contact article which is, in the opinion of the Minister, injurious to life or health. [48/2017]
A person must not import, advertise or sell any food contact article in contravention of any notification mentioned in subsection (1). [48/2017]
Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence.
Without affecting section 32, in any proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) in relation to the publication of an advertisement in contravention of subsection (2), it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities — (a) that — (i) the accused was acting in the course of a business of delivering, transmitting or broadcasting communications (in whatever form or by whatever means) or making data available; and (ii) the nature of the business is such that persons undertaking it have no control over the nature or content of the communications or data; or (b) that the accused — (i) carried on the business of publishing or arranging for the publication of advertisements; and (ii) published or arranged for the publication of the advertisement in question in the ordinary course of that business. [48/2017]
However, subsection (4) does not apply if the accused concerned — (a) ought reasonably to have known that the publication of the advertisement was an offence under subsection (3); or (b) had previously been informed in writing by or on behalf of the Director‑General that publication of such an advertisement would constitute an offence under subsection (3). [48/2017; 11/2019]
A person must not, without authority — (a) open, alter, break, remove or erase any mark, fastening or seal placed by an authorised officer under this Act upon any food or food contact article or upon any package, place, door or opening containing or affording access to any food or food contact article; or (b) remove any mark, line, sign or other direction drawn or set up for the purposes of this Act. [48/2017]
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence.
[48/2017; 11/2019]
Everything so forfeited to the Agency must be disposed of as the Director‑General thinks fit. [11/2019]
(a) by delivering it to the person or by delivering it at the person’s usual or last known place of residence to some adult member or employee of the person’s family; (b) by leaving it at the person’s usual or last known place of residence or business in a cover addressed to the person; or (c) by forwarding it by registered post addressed to the person at the person’s usual or last known place of residence or business. [48/2017]
Any summons, notice, order or document required or authorised by this Act to be served on any incorporated company or body, may be served — (a) by delivering it to the secretary of the company or body at its registered or principal office; or (b) by sending it by registered post addressed to the company or body at its registered or principal office.
Any summons, notice, order or document required or authorised by this Act to be served on the owner or occupier of any premises may be served by delivering it or a true copy thereof to some adult person on the premises or, if there is no such person on the premises to whom it can with reasonable diligence be delivered, by affixing the summons, notice, order or document to some conspicuous part of the premises.
Any summons, notice, order or document required or authorised by this Act to be served on the owner or occupier of any premises is deemed properly addressed if addressed by the description of the owner or occupier of the premises without further name or description.
decision must be stayed. [48/2017]
The Minister may confirm, vary or rescind the notice, order or decision or direct that the thing be proceeded with, varied or abandoned (as the case may be) or make any order which the Director‑General is competent to make and the Minister’s decision is final.
The Minister may designate to hear and determine, in the Minister’s place, any appeals or a specific appeal under this section — (a) any Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary, for his or her Ministry; or (b) any public officer in his or her Ministry not subordinate to the person whose decision is appealed against, and any reference in this section to the Minister includes a reference to the Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary or public officer so designated for that appeal. [48/2017]
(a) is in the discretion of the Director‑General; (b) may be granted, renewed or refused without any reason for the grant, renewal or refusal being assigned therefor; and (c) may be granted or renewed subject to any restrictions and conditions that the Director‑General may think fit.
The Director‑General may require any applicant for a licence to furnish such information and evidence that the Director‑General may reasonably require for a full and proper consideration of the application and, in the event of a refusal to furnish the information, must refuse to grant or renew the licence.
The Director‑General may, before granting or renewing any licence, require the applicant to give security, either in the form of a cash deposit or by entering into a bond, that the provisions of this Act and the conditions of the licence will be duly observed.
Where an applicant is required to enter into a bond, the Director‑General may require not more than 2 sureties to enter into the bond with the applicant.
Any sum deposited or bond entered into under this section is liable to forfeiture in whole or in part at the discretion of the Director‑General on cancellation of the licence.
Any person who wilfully furnishes any false information in any application for a licence shall be guilty of an offence and any licence granted is void and of no effect.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, any licence may be for any period that the Director‑General thinks fit.
There must be charged for the grant or renewal of any licence a fee prescribed, if any.
Where a licence is granted for less than 12 months, the Director‑General may charge a proportionate fee therefor; and in charging such proportionate fee, any part of a month is to be reckoned as one month.
A licensee is not entitled to any refund of any fee paid by the licensee in respect of any licence.
A person must not in any manner transfer any licence or permit any licence to be used by any other person without the written approval of the Director‑General.
Where a licensee — (a) is in breach of any restriction or condition subject to which the licence was granted; or (b) fails to comply with an applicable requirement of this Act, the non‑compliance with which is not an offence under this Act, the Director‑General may — (c) suspend or cancel the licence; and (d) in the case of paragraph (a), in lieu of or in addition to paragraph (c), impose a financial penalty of such amount, not exceeding $5,000, as the Director‑General thinks fit. [48/2017]
All financial penalties collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. [48/2017]
Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who is aggrieved by — (a) the refusal by the Director‑General to grant or renew a licence; (b) the suspension or cancellation by the Director‑General of any licence; (c) the imposition of any financial penalty by the Director‑General; or (d) the forfeiture of any sum deposited or bond entered into under this section, may, within 14 days of such refusal, suspension, cancellation, imposition of financial penalty or forfeiture, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
The Minister may designate to hear and determine, in the Minister’s place, any appeals or a specific appeal under subsection (14) — (a) any Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary, for his or her Ministry; or (b) any public officer in his or her Ministry not subordinate to the person whose decision is appealed against, and any reference in that subsection to the Minister includes a reference to the Senior Minister of State or Minister of State, or Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary or public officer so designated for that appeal. [48/2017]
In this section, “licence” includes any approval, permit, permission, authority, authorisation or licence which may be granted or renewed by the Director‑General under this Act.
Where any such notice, order, receipt, warrant or document requires authentication, the signature or a facsimile thereof of the Director‑General or an authorised officer affixed to that notice, order, receipt, warrant or document is sufficient authentication.
The occupier of any premises must, if required by any police officer or authorised officer, give his or her name and other proof of identity and the name and address of the owner of the premises, if known.
Any person who contravenes this section or wilfully mis-states his or her name and address or the name and address of the owner of any premises shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $300.
On payment of the sum of money, no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence.
The Minister may make regulations to prescribe the offences which may be compounded and the method and procedure by which those offences may be compounded under this section.
All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. [48/2017]
No proceedings taken under this Act are to be invalid for want of form.
Every record, register and other document kept by any authorised officer for the purposes of this Act is deemed to be a public document, and a copy thereof or an extract therefrom certified by the officer responsible for the custody thereof to be a true copy or extract (as the case may be) and subscribed by such officer with his or her name and his or her official title is admissible in evidence as proof of the content of the document or extract therefrom.
[48/2017]
(a) the risk to public health of providing the exemption is negligible; (b) there are other sufficient safeguards under this Act or any other written law, or by other means, to minimise any risk to public health in providing the exemption; (c) there are requirements in other written law or there are other means that deal with the matter to be exempted besides the applicable requirements of this Act; (d) the exemption is necessary or desirable to avoid unnecessary restrictions on trade. [48/2017]
An exemption under this section — (a) must be in writing and given to the particular person concerned; and (b) need not be published in the Gazette. [48/2017]
(a) to prescribe the standard of strength, weight, quality or quantity of any food or of any ingredient or component part thereof; (b) to prohibit the addition or use of any specified thing or of more than the specified quantity or proportion thereof to any food or food contact article; (c) to prohibit any modes of manufacture, preparation or preservation of any food or food contact article; (d) to secure the cleanliness and freedom from contamination of any food in the course of its manufacture, preparation, storage, packing, carriage, delivery, exposure for sale or sale and to secure the cleanliness of places, receptacles, food contact articles and vehicles used in such manufacture, preparation, storage, packing, carriage, delivery, exposure for sale or sale and to secure the proper conduct of places in which the sale or preparation for sale of food is carried on and for these purposes to require any person to submit to a medical examination; (e) regulating the identification and labelling of food or food contact articles for sale, including specifying the matter that must or must not be contained in any such label and the manner of labelling; (f) setting out standards for the maintenance, cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene of premises at which a non-retail food business is carried out; (g) setting out requirements and procedures for document control and recording by food businesses to achieve the safety and suitability of food and to support a secure and reliable supply of food, including — (i) the information that must be collected about food or a food contact article; (ii) the periods for which the information must be kept; and (iii) how, when and to whom that information must be reported; (h) setting out requirements that apply to imported food or food contact articles to ensure that the food or food contact article is safe and suitable and to support a secure and reliable supply of imported food in Singapore, including keeping of records in relation to the source or traceability and handling of the food or food contact article imported; (i) to prescribe the method of analysis of any food and form of certificate of analysis; (j) to fix the fees to be paid in respect of the analysis of the food by an authorised analyst and for any licence or registration issued or effected under this Act and for copies of a certificate of analysis; (k) prohibiting or regulating the promotion and advertising of food and food contact articles, including specifying the matter that must or must not be contained in any advertisement and the manner of promotion and advertising; (l) to prohibit the sale of specified food or food contact articles otherwise than by weight; (m) to prohibit or regulate whether by licence or otherwise the import or sale of separated or skimmed milk or filled milk or whey; (n) requiring, regulating or prohibiting the display or distribution, by a prescribed class of retail food businesses, in relation to a prescribed class of food which is sold by retail or displayed for sale by retail at the premises where the food business is carried out, of information of a kind prescribed, including providing for — (i) nutritional information that must be determined in a prescribed manner; and (ii) display in the manner (such as in a menu in printed or electronic form or a label), and at locations in those premises, prescribed for nutritional information of that kind; (o) to regulate the seizure and disposal of unwholesome meat, fish, fruit, vegetables or other food or drink exposed or intended for sale; (p) prescribing the fees to be paid in connection with the administration of this Act, and the waiver, reduction or refund of fees charged; (q) providing for any saving, transitional and other consequential, incidental and supplemental provisions that the Minister considers necessary or expedient; (r) to prescribe that any act or omission, or any contravention of the provisions of any regulations shall be an offence and to provide for the imposition of a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine of $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction; and (s) generally to carry out the purposes of this Act. [48/2017; 11/2019]
Any such regulations may be made applicable either to foods or food contact articles generally or to specified foods or food contact articles only. [48/2017]
The Minister may, in making any regulations, prescribe the circumstances in which it is presumed that an offence under the provisions of any such regulations was committed.
Any food regulation may adopt or incorporate by reference, with or without modification specified in the regulation, any matter contained in any code, standard, rule, requirement, specification or other document, as in force at a particular time or from time to time, which relates to any matter with which the food regulation deals, even if the code, standard, rule, requirement, specification or other document does not yet exist when the food regulation is made. [48/2017]
Any material applied, adopted or incorporated in any food regulation by reference under subsection (4) is to be treated for all purposes as forming part of the food regulation; and, unless otherwise provided in the food regulation, every amendment to any material incorporated by reference under subsection (4) that is made by the person or organisation originating the material is, subject to subsection (6), to be treated as being a part of the food regulation. [48/2017]
Where any material mentioned in subsection (4) is applied, adopted or incorporated by reference in any food regulation, the Minister must give notice in the Gazette stating — (a) that the material is incorporated in the food regulation and the date on which the relevant provision in the food regulation was made; (b) that the material is available for inspection during working hours, free of charge; (c) the place where the material can be inspected; (d) that copies of the material can be purchased; (e) the place where the material can be purchased; and (f) if copies of the material are available in other ways, the details of where or how the material can be accessed or obtained. [48/2017]
The Minister may, in making any regulations, prescribe the circumstances when a trade mark may or may not be used on or in relation to any packaging or container of any particular food, or on any particular food, or in any advertisement relating to any particular food, but these circumstances and the operation of those regulations are not circumstances that make it reasonable or appropriate — (a) to not register the trade mark under the Trade Marks Act 1998; (b) to revoke the acceptance of an application for registration of the trade mark under that Act; (c) to register the trade mark subject to conditions or limitations under that Act; (d) to revoke the registration of the trade mark under that Act; or (e) to declare invalid under that Act the registration of the trade mark. [11/2019]
All regulations made under this Act must be published in the Gazette and must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication.
Despite anything in any regulations made under this section, any person may, at any time within 12 months after the date of the publication in the Gazette of such regulations, sell any food the sale of which is otherwise lawful, if that person proves that at that date the food or food contact article was part of the existing stock-in-trade in Singapore of any person carrying on business there and that since that date no act has been done whereby the food or food contact article fails to conform to the requirements of those regulations. [48/2017]
For the purposes of subsection (9) any goods purchased before the date of the publication in the Gazette of such regulations for import into Singapore are deemed to form part of the purchasers’ stock-in-trade in Singapore. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY SALE OF FOOD ACT 1973 This Legislative History is a service provided by the Law Revision Commission on a best-efforts basis. It is not part of the Act.
Bill : 4/1973 First Reading : 16 February 1973 Second and Third Readings : 7 March 1973 Commencement : 1 May 1973 Note: This Act repealed the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act (Chapter 167, 1970 Revised Edition) relating to the sale of food.
Operation : 30 March 1987
Bill : 10/2002 First Reading : 3 May 2002 Second and Third Readings : 24 May 2002 Commencement : 1 July 2002
Operation : 31 December 2002
Bill : 42/2017 First Reading : 2 October 2017 Second and Third Readings : 7 November 2017 Commencement : 1 February 2018
(Amendments made by section 64 of the above Act) Bill : 5/2019 First Reading : 15 January 2019 Second and Third Readings : 12 February 2019 ii Commencement : 1 April 2019 (section 64)
Bill : 32/2019 First Reading : 7 October 2019 Second Reading : 5 November 2019 Notice of Amendments : 5 November 2019 Third Reading : 5 November 2019 Commencement : 2 January 2021 (section 28(1) read with item 141 of the Schedule)
Operation : 31 December 2021
(Amendments made by the above Act) Bill : 24/2022 First Reading : 12 September 2022 Second and Third Readings : 3 October 2022 Commencement : 1 November 2022
(Amendments made by the above Act) Bill : 9/2023 First Reading : 24 February 2023 Second and Third Readings : 21 March 2023 Commencement : 1 June 2024 iii Abbreviations (updated on 29 August 2022) G.N. Gazette Notification G.N. Sp. Gazette Notification (Special Supplement) L.A. Legislative Assembly L.N. Legal Notification (Federal/Malaysian) M. Malaya/Malaysia (including Federated Malay States, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya and Federation of Malaysia) Parl. Parliament S Subsidiary Legislation S.I. Statutory Instrument (United Kingdom) S (N.S.) Subsidiary Legislation (New Series) S.S.G.G. Straits Settlements Government Gazette S.S.G.G. (E) Straits Settlements Government Gazette (Extraordinary) COMPARATIVE TABLE SALE OF FOOD ACT 1973 This Act has undergone renumbering in the 2020 Revised Edition. This Comparative Table is provided to help readers locate the corresponding provisions in the last Revised Edition. — 30—(3) [Deleted by Act 11 of 2019] —
[Deleted by Act 11 of 2019] (13A) (3B) (3C) (3D) — FIRST SCHEDULE [Repealed by Act 48 of 2017] — SECOND SCHEDULE [Repealed by Act 48 of 2017]