Singapore (SG)
Fish products for human consumption
1.1 Establishment registration
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Department) is the Australian government authority responsible for export registration, inspection and certification of Australian food and agricultural exports.
All premises involved in the production of fish and fish products for export, including fishing vessels where fish is prepared for export must be registered with the Department. For more information or assistance with the export registration process contact the Department's Dairy, Eggs and Fish program at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au.
Exceptions to establishment registration
Preparation of goods at an export registered establishment and an export permit is not required if you are exporting the following as these goods are not prescribed under the Export Control (Fish & Fish products) Rules 2021;
- liquid fish and liquid fish products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres;
- dried fish and dried fish products (other than dried abalone) exported in a consignment of not more than 2 kilograms;
- fish products where fish or fish products are not the major component;
- fish or fish products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material;
- fish or fish products not covered by paragraphs (a) to (d) (other than dried abalone) exported in a consignment of not more than 10 kilograms;
- fish or fish products in the form of a tablet or capsule;
- Note
- However, if Singapore requires a government certificate for the entry of the above goods, a certificate can be issued by the Department – provided that the goods have been prepared in an export registered establishment.
1.2 Overseas listing
| Initial listing procedure for fish products for human consumption | Required? |
|---|---|
| Establishment listing for Singapore | No* except for crocodile meat |
| * Singapore Food Agency (SFA) considers crocodile products to be a meat product rather than seafood. To export crocodile meat into Singapore, establishments are required to apply for listing approval with SFA. For further information on this listing process please refer to the corresponding Meat Micor. | |
1.3 Prohibited products
The department has no knowledge of fish or fish products that are prohibited for import to Singapore.
1.4 Access for fish products for human consumption
| Product | Access? |
|---|---|
| Finfish | Yes |
| Bivalves (for example, oysters, scallops, mussels, oysters, clams, cockles) | Yes* |
| Crustaceans (for example, crab, prawn, lobster, scampi, crayfish) | Yes |
| Echinoderms (for example, sea urchins, sea cucumber) | Yes |
| Gastropods (for example, abalone, periwinkles) | Yes |
| Cephalopods (for example, squid, cuttlefish, octopus) | Yes |
| Tunicates (for example, sea squirts) | Yes |
| Crocodile | Yes |
| * All consignments of frozen oysters are required to be tested for norovirus and must be found to be free of the virus |
Singapore Food Agency (SFA) completed a risk assessment and review of the import controls for frozen pearl oyster meat (adductor muscle only) and reclassified the product from ‘frozen oyster’ to ‘ fish and fish products’. As a result, exports of frozen pearl oyster meat to Singapore are no longer required to be accompanied by the health certificate for oysters. The re-classification by SFA of pearl oyster meat as a fishery product also means that the mandatory norovirus testing for all frozen oysters exported to Singapore does not apply to pearl oyster meat. SFA now require that frozen pearl oyster meat comply with the following requirements:
- The pearl oysters from which the meat products are derived are harvested and processed by an establishment regulated by the competent authority in the exporting country.
- The pearl oyster meat products are processed under hygienic and sanitary conditions.
- The pearl oyster meat products meet the Singapore Food Regulations and SFA’s import requirements.
To meet SFA’s requirements, the department can now issue a FX46 Certificate as to condition, with no additional endorsement.
2.1 Harvest
Sourcing of fish and fish products
Singapore has no known specific requirements for sourcing of fish and fish products that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
Sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles
Singapore has no known specific requirements for sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
2.2 Microbial and residue sampling
When a declaration on an export certificate refers to compliance with certain standards, specifically microbiological standards, the products covered by that export certificate must be tested against the nominated standards at a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) or International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) accredited laboratory. The Department will only issue the required export certificate when an analytical certificate issued by a NATA or IANZ accredited laboratory is provided. The register of NATA accredited laboratories can be found at National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia.
When raw materials or final products are tested to monitor or verify compliance with the Approved Arrangement/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, but not against a declaration on an export certificate, testing does not need to be carried out at a NATA accredited laboratory but must comply with requirements set out Chapter 11, of the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
Records of compliance should be available on request.
All consignments of frozen oysters are required to be tested for norovirus and found to be free of the virus. The resultant laboratory report, must accompany the health certificate provided by the Department. For more information, please refer to the Singapore food regulation website.
Singapore residue standards
Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Singapore or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Singapore and Australia.
Food business operators should note that:
- These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Singapore standards and the Australian standards.
- Any detection of a residue above the Singapore MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.
- Note
- Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.
2.3 Operational requirements additional to Australia's export legislation
Singapore has no known specific operational requirements that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
2.4 Premises and equipment
Singapore has no known specific premises and equipment requirements that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.1 Live fish
Singapore has no known specific requirements for the preparation of live fish that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.2 Non-viable fish
Singapore has no known specific requirements for the preparation of non-viable fish that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.3 Crocodile
Singapore has no known specific requirements for the preparation of crocodiles that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.4 Packaging
Singapore has no known specific requirements for packaging that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.5 Labelling
Under Clause 10A of Singapore’s Sale of Food Act (PDF 1.4 MB), where changes are required to be made to the expiry date for food products (for example, following a change in trade description) a new label must be applied. Changes to product expiry dates must not occur by altering existing labels.
3.6 Shelf life
Singapore has no known specific requirements for Shelf life that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
4.1 Shipping marks
Singapore has no known specific requirements for shipping marks, that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
4.2 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout
Singapore has no known specific requirements for refrigeration, transfer and loadout, that differ from of the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
5.1 Import permit
Exporters should confirm with their importer if an import permit is required for their product.
5.2 Port of entry inspection and testing
6.1 Live fish
Live finfish, bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropods, cephalopods and tunicates
For exporting eligible live seafood, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only).
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
6.2 Non-viable fish
Non viable finfish, bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropods, cephalopods and tunicates
For exporting eligible non viable seafood, with the exception of oysters, cockles, frozen crab meat and cooked prawns, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only).
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
Oysters
For exporting eligible oysters, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only), with endorsement 519.
All consignments of frozen oysters are required to be tested for norovirus and found to be free of the virus. The resultant laboratory report must accompany the health certificate provided by the department.
Frozen pearl oyster meat (adductor muscle only) is not considered to be ‘frozen oysters’ and may be accompanied by FX46 Certificate with no additional endorsement.
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
Additional endorsement 519
- a) the oysters were harvested from approved waters and processed in an approved establishment/plant in a sanitary and hygienic manner
- b) the oysters have not been treated with chemical preservatives or other additives injurious to health.
Cockle meat
For exporting eligible blood cockle meat, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only), with endorsement 3393.
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
Additional endorsement 3393
- a) the blood cockle meat were harvested from approved waters and processed in an approved establishment/plant in a sanitary and hygienic manner
- b) the blood cockle meat have not been treated with chemical additives or other additives injurious to health.
Crabmeat
For exporting eligible frozen crabmeat, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only), with endorsement 3391.
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
Additional endorsement 3391
- a) the frozen crabmeat were processed in an approved establishment/plant in a sanitary and hygienic manner
- b) the frozen crabmeat have not been treated with chemical preservatives or other additives injurious to health.
Cooked prawns
For exporting eligible cooked prawns, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only), with endorsement 3392.
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
Additional endorsement 3392
- a) the cooked prawns were processed in an approved establishment/plant in a sanitary and hygienic manner
- b) the cooked prawns have not been treated with chemical preservatives or other additives injurious to health.
6.3 Crocodiles
For exporting eligible crocodile products for human consumption, use FX46 Certificate (NEXDOC only).
Embedded endorsement
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are;
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin
Additional endorsement 518
The above product;
- has been hygienically prepared and found fit for human consumption
- is free from human pathogenic bacteria including salmonella
- has a total plate count not exceeding 2.5 million organisms per gram
- has not been treated with chemical preservatives or other additives injurious to health.
Fish products not for human consumption
1.1 Establishment registration
The Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021 does not regulate fish and fish products not for human consumption. Establishments processing such products are not required to be export registered with the Department unless it is a requirement of the importing country. Exporters are encouraged to confirm the eligibility and import requirements of their product with their importer, or directly with the importing country competent authority prior to export.
Importing countries may require a health certificate be provided for fish and fish products not for human consumption. If a health certificate is required, contact the Department's non-prescribed goods program at NPGExports@aff.gov.au for further information.
1.2 Overseas listing
| Initial listing procedure for fish products not for human consumption | Required? |
|---|---|
| Establishment listing for Singapore | No |
1.3 Prohibited products
The Department is not aware of any prohibited fish products. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check with their importers to determine if the products are permitted for import to Singapore.
1.4 Access for fish products not for human consumption
| Product | Access? |
|---|---|
| Aquaculture feed | No agreed certification |
| Animal feed | No agreed certification |
| Crocodile skins and hides | No agreed certification |
| Technical products and pharmaceutical material (for example, fish oil capsule) | No agreed certification |
| Rendered products | No agreed certification |
| Shells | No agreed certification |
The Department is not aware of the requirements for animal feed. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check requirements with their importer or the Singapore competent authority prior to shipping any animal feed to Singapore.
The Department is not aware of the requirements for crocodile skins and hides. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check requirements with their importer or the Singapore competent authority prior to shipping any Rendered products to Singapore.
The Department is not aware of the production requirements for Rendered products. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check production requirements with their importer or the Singapore competent authority prior to shipping any Rendered products to Singapore.
The Department is not aware of the production requirements for technical grade and pharmaceutical products. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check production requirements with their importer or the Singapore competent authority prior to shipping any technical products or pharmaceutical material to Singapore.
29/08/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 2.2).
30/06/2023 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Fish headings.
30/06/2023 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Fish headings.