Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Little Secret About exporting to Singapore

It is essential that food exported to Singapore is produced under sanitary conditions in a properly regulated establishment. Food importers are required to obtain food from regulated sources. They are required to maintain documentary proof that the products they import are produced in an establishment under proper supervision of the competent food authority or which has a quality assurance program acceptable AVA food regulation authority of Singapore



At present, importers of the following food products are required to submit certified-true-copy documents from the food safety authority of the country of origin certifying that the imported food product is produced or manufactured by a licensed or regulated premises:

           
S/No.
Types of products
1
Breads and buns
2
Chocolate products
3
Coconut milk and grated coconut, and nasi lemak
4
Infant cereals and infant formulae
5
Land snails
6
Minimally processed fruits and vegetables
7
Noodles and pastas
8
Traditional cakes (kueh kueh)
9
Cut Sugarcanes
10
Mooncakes



Some examples of documents that are acceptable include:

Business licence or registration of the premises
Health Certificate
Certificate of HACCP or equivalent quality assurance system
Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices


Question
:
My overseas customers may sometimes require health certificate(s) for the food products that I export to them due to the requirements of their authorities.  How can I apply for such certificate?
Answer
:
You may apply for health certificates from FCD/AVA if you are exporting processed food products, excluding meat and seafood products that are manufactured, processed or packed in food factories licensed by the division.

For health certificates to be issued, inspection and/or sampling of food from the export consignment will be carried out.

You may refer to the “Terms & Conditions” for the conditions of issue and the procedures of application.

Question
:
How much must I pay for a food export certificate?
Answer
:
 The Food (Export) Certificate is charged at $90.30 (inclusive of GST) per certificate (in duplicate) per consignment.  Different products will be considered as different consignments.  Additional copies are charged at $6.30  (inclusive of GST) each.  If laboratory analysis of food sample is involved, the cost of analysis is also to be paid by the applicant.

Question
:
What other certificates can an exporter/trader/forwarder/ manufacturer apply for imported or locally manufactured food?
Answer
:
 Another common type of certificate that is issued to imported and locally manufactured food products is the free sale certificate.  The applicant should submit an “Online Application for Free Sale Certificate” providing information on the product including product description, common name, full ingredient listing, country of origin, name and address of the manufacturer of the product, quantity and unit of packing.

Question
:
How much must I pay for a free sale certificate?
Answer
:
 The free sale certificate is charged at $16.80 (inclusive of GST) per certificate.
 

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