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Selling infant formula and baby food in Singapore

In Singapore, infants' food and infant formula are special purpose foods under the Food Regulations, administered by the Singapore Food Agency. Regulations 251 to 254 set their labelling, health claims are prohibited on infant formula, and imports need health certificates and periodic laboratory reports. Marketing follows a code administered through the Health Promotion Board.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Regulator
Singapore Food Agency (SFA)
Infant
A person not more than 12 months of age
Labelling
Regulations 5, 9, 10 and 251 to 254 of the Food Regulations
Health claims
Prohibited on infant formula
Marketing
Code of Ethics on the Sale of Infant Foods in Singapore (SIFECS)

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is it infant formula, follow-on formula or other infants' food? Read more
  2. 2Does the English label carry the infant formula particulars and the 'Important Notice'? Read more
  3. 3Does any claim, picture or name on the pack fall foul of the claim rules? Read more
  4. 4What certificates and laboratory reports does the import need? Read more
  5. 5Is the composition within limits, with permitted additives only? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Scope and composition

What counts as infants' food and infant formula, and the rules on what goes in.

  • Infants' food is any food suitable for infants, including infant formula for infants from birth to 12 months; the Food Regulations define an infant as a person not more than 12 months of age.
  • Infants' food for infants over six months is intended as a complementary food.
  • Infants' food and infant formula are special purpose foods, which carry nutrition labelling.
  • SFA publishes a calculation guide for infant formula so importers can check that the nutritional composition is within the limits.
  • Only additives permitted by SFA may be used, and contaminants must be within the limits in the Food Regulations.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your formula's nutrient data against the limits, and keeps the specifications and certificates with the product. Ask about this

Labelling of infant formula

What an infant formula label shows, in English.

  • The label shows the common name, such as 'infant formula' or 'follow-on formula', the ingredients, net weight, country of origin and the name and address of the Singapore importer, distributor or agent.
  • Infants' food is date-marked, in letters at least 3 mm high; the day of the date is optional.
  • Directions for preparation are accompanied by a warning about the health hazards of inappropriate preparation, storage and use.
  • A nutrition information panel per 100 ml of prepared formula gives energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate and each vitamin and mineral.
  • The label states how much to give each feed and how many feeds a day for each month up to six months, and storage before and after opening.
  • An 'Important Notice' states that breast milk is best for infants and that the formula should be used on the advice of a doctor or healthcare practitioner.

How we help: Compliant Always sets the infant formula particulars beside your label, with the regulation for each line. Ask about this

Claims and idealisation

What an infant formula label or advert may not say or show.

  • Health claims, including nutrient function, other function and implied health claims, are prohibited on infant formula labels and adverts.
  • Implied claims include words like 'clinically proven', 'gentle' or 'hypoallergenic', words or mascots that suggest intelligence or enhanced ability, and coined names or sound-alikes such as 'e-mune'.
  • Labels and adverts must not idealise infant formula, for example with images of infants or of pregnant or nursing women, comparisons with breast milk, or terms such as 'humanised' or 'complete nutrition'.
  • Nutrition claims on energy, carbohydrate and the nutrients listed in regulation 252(3) are not allowed; limited claims are allowed for hydrolysed protein and for lactose-free formula.
  • Labels or adverts for infants' food other than formula for birth to six months must not suggest it is suitable for infants of six months or below.
  • Promotion and distribution of infant formula should follow the Code of Ethics on the Sale of Infant Foods in Singapore, administered by SIFECS through the Health Promotion Board.

How we help: Compliant Always reads the words, names and pictures on your pack and adverts against SFA's guidance, with the guidance line beside each finding. Ask about this

Import of infant formula and infant cereal

The certificates and reports each consignment needs.

  • Infant formula and follow-on formula (0 to 12 months) need a health certificate for each consignment, attesting to milk from FMD-free countries and pasteurisation, or to sterilisation where the source country is FMD-affected.
  • Importers submit chemical and microbiological reports once every six months, including aflatoxin M1 and Cronobacter for powdered formula, and a sterility test for liquid formula.
  • Imported infant cereal needs a laboratory report on aflatoxin B1 for each consignment, unless the supplier is registered under SFA's voluntary scheme.
  • Infant formula and infant cereal imported from Malaysia must come from establishments registered with Malaysia's Ministry of Health.
  • Importers need SFA's registration for processed food and a permit through TradeNet for each consignment.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each consignment's health certificate and the six-monthly lab reports with the product, and shows when the next report is due. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterRegistration, permits, health certificates, periodic lab reports and being named on the label.Certificates and lab reports read, dated and tied to each consignment.
Brand ownerThe label, the product name and what the pack and adverts say and show.Pack and adverts checked against the claim rules, with the source for each finding.
ManufacturerComposition within limits and the test results behind it.Specifications and certificates of analysis kept with each batch.
RetailerSelling only correctly labelled products within their date mark.Product documents shown when a buyer asks.

Questions businesses ask

Who regulates infant formula in Singapore?
The Singapore Food Agency, under the Sale of Food Act and the Food Regulations. Regulations 251 to 254 set the labelling requirements for infants' food and infant formula.
Can infant formula carry health claims in Singapore?
No. The use of health claims on infant formula is prohibited, including nutrient function, other function and implied health claims, on labels and in adverts.
Can an infant formula pack show a baby?
No. SFA treats images of infants, or of pregnant or nursing women, as idealising infant formula, along with comparisons to breast milk and terms such as 'humanised'.
What notice must an infant formula label carry?
An 'Important Notice' that breast milk is best for infants and that the formula should be used on the advice of a doctor or healthcare practitioner.
Does infant formula need a date mark?
Yes. Infants' food is on the list of foods that must be date-marked, in letters at least 3 mm high. The day of the date is optional.
Can I say 'enriched with iron' on infant formula?
No. Claims about energy, carbohydrate and the nutrients listed in regulation 252(3), such as iron or vitamin D, are not allowed. Limited claims are allowed for hydrolysed protein and lactose-free formula.
What does imported infant formula need?
A health certificate for each consignment on milk source and heat treatment, plus chemical and microbiological laboratory reports once every six months.
Is there a marketing code for infant formula?
Yes. Promotion, marketing and distribution of infant formula should follow the Code of Ethics on the Sale of Infant Foods in Singapore, administered by SIFECS through the Health Promotion Board.
Can baby food say it is suitable from four months?
Labels or adverts for infants' food, other than infant formula for birth to six months, must not state or imply that it is suitable for infants of six months or below.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Singapore?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Singapore and what your paperwork needs to show.

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