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Selling soft drinks, waters and juices in Singapore

In Singapore, drinks are food under the Sale of Food Act and the Food Regulations, administered by the Singapore Food Agency. Prepacked non-alcoholic drinks are graded under Nutri-Grade, and grades C and D carry the mark on the front of the pack. Since 1 April 2026, plastic and metal containers carry a 10-cent deposit.

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

Food law
Sale of Food Act and Food Regulations, administered by SFA
Nutri-Grade
Mark on front of pack for grades C and D; advertising of grade D restricted
Nutri-Grade authorities
Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board
Container deposit
10 cents on plastic and metal containers of 150 ml to 3 litres
Import
SFA registration for processed food, and a permit per consignment

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is it a Nutri-Grade beverage, and which grade does it get? Read more
  2. 2Does the label carry the mandatory particulars, date mark and any advisory statement? Read more
  3. 3Are the sweeteners and other additives permitted, within their limits? Read more
  4. 4Is it natural mineral water or spring water, with the certificates that needs? Read more
  5. 5How does it come into Singapore? Read more
  6. 6Is the container in the Beverage Container Return Scheme? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Nutri-Grade

The mandatory grade for sugar and saturated fat in drinks, and the advertising rules that go with it.

  • Nutri-Grade beverages include ready-to-drink prepacked beverages, powders and concentrates to be reconstituted, such as 3-in-1 coffee and cordials, and drinks from automated dispensers.
  • Alcoholic beverages and special purpose foods are excluded from the definition of Nutri-Grade beverages.
  • Drinks are graded A to D on a single set of thresholds for sugar and saturated fat; grades C and D must carry the Nutri-Grade mark on the front of the pack, which also shows sugar as a percentage.
  • Nutri-Grade beverages also provide nutrition information: energy, protein, carbohydrate, total sugar, fat and saturated fat.
  • No artwork registration or test result is submitted before the mark is applied; the authorities check after products are on the market.
  • Advertising grade D drinks is prohibited across media, except at point of sale in variety shops such as supermarkets, where the mark must be displayed.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your nutrition data against the Nutri-Grade thresholds and keeps the grade, the artwork and the lab report behind it with the product. Ask about this

Labelling

What a prepacked drink label shows under the Food Regulations.

  • Prepacked drinks carry, in English, the name, ingredients with allergens, net quantity by volume, the Singapore business responsible, country of origin, lot identification and directions where needed.
  • Pasteurised fruit and vegetable juices and juice drinks, and vitaminised juices, are among the foods that must be date-marked, in letters at least 3 mm high.
  • Natural mineral water with more than 1 ppm fluoride is labelled 'Contains fluoride'; above 1.5 ppm it also states it is not suitable for infants and children under seven.
  • Fruit drinks and vegetable juice drinks sweetened with acesulfame-K, cyclamates or steviol glycosides at the maximum permitted levels carry a statement that children nine and under should not have more than two servings a day.
  • Drinks with solid bits, such as juice with nata de coco, do not need a drained weight declaration.

How we help: Compliant Always sets the mandatory particulars and statements beside your label, with the regulation for each. Ask about this

Composition, additives and mineral water

What may go into a drink, and the evidence some drinks need at import.

  • Only food additives on SFA's list of permitted food additives may be used, within their limits; the Thirteenth Schedule sets maximum levels for listed sweeteners.
  • Imported natural mineral water and spring water need an authentication certificate from the authority of the country of origin.
  • Each consignment of mineral water also needs a health certificate showing microbiological and chemical results, such as arsenic no more than 0.01 ppm and lead no more than 0.01 ppm.
  • Contaminants must be within the limits in the Food Regulations.

How we help: Upload a lab report or certificate and Compliant Always reads it against the limits that apply, and shows when the next one is due. Ask about this

Import

How drinks come into Singapore.

  • Beverages and mineral water are classified as processed food.
  • Importers need SFA's Registration to Import Processed Food Products and Food Appliances, and an import permit through TradeNet for each consignment.
  • Processed food imports have no permit fee, but may be inspected and sampled on arrival.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the registration, the permit papers and the certificates each consignment needs with the product. Ask about this

Container deposit and packaging reporting

Producer duties for drink containers and packaging.

  • The Beverage Container Return Scheme started on 1 April 2026: prepacked beverages in plastic and metal containers of 150 ml to 3 litres carry a 10-cent deposit and a Deposit Mark.
  • Beverage producers, including manufacturers and importers, take part under an Extended Producer Responsibility framework; the scheme is run by BCRS Ltd., licensed by NEA.
  • NEA has published a circular on when beverage products do not need a Deposit Mark and barcode.
  • Producers with annual turnover above S$10 million report packaging data and 3R plans to NEA each year under Mandatory Packaging Reporting.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the scheme registration and packaging data for each product, ready for the yearly report. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Brand ownerThe grade, the Nutri-Grade mark, the label and the claims.Nutrition data, grade and artwork kept together and dated.
ImporterSFA registration, permits, mineral water certificates and being named on the label.Certificates read and dated before each consignment.
Beverage producerTaking part in the Beverage Container Return Scheme for its containers.Scheme registration and container data kept with each product.
RetailerCharging the deposit on marked containers, and point-of-sale display of grade D drinks.Product documents shown when a buyer asks.

Questions businesses ask

What is Nutri-Grade?
Singapore's mandatory grading of drinks from A to D by sugar and saturated fat. Prepacked drinks graded C or D carry the Nutri-Grade mark on the front of the pack, with sugar shown as a percentage.
Do all drinks need a Nutri-Grade mark?
Only those graded C or D must carry it; it is optional for A and B. Alcoholic beverages and special purpose foods are not Nutri-Grade beverages.
Do I need to register my Nutri-Grade artwork?
No. Companies do not register artwork or submit test results before applying the mark. The authorities carry out post-market surveillance.
Can I advertise a grade D drink in Singapore?
Advertisements for grade D drinks are prohibited across media platforms, except point-of-sale adverts for prepacked drinks in variety shops such as supermarkets, which must show the Nutri-Grade mark.
What is the Beverage Container Return Scheme?
Since 1 April 2026, prepacked drinks in plastic and metal containers of 150 ml to 3 litres carry a 10-cent deposit and a Deposit Mark, refunded when the container is returned to a reverse vending machine.
Who runs the container scheme?
BCRS Ltd., a not-for-profit company licensed by NEA, collects and recycles containers on behalf of producers under an Extended Producer Responsibility framework.
What does imported mineral water need?
An authentication certificate from the authority of the country of origin, and a health certificate for each consignment showing microbiological and chemical test results within SFA's limits.
Do juices need a date mark?
Pasteurised and vitaminised fruit and vegetable juices and juice drinks are on the list of foods that must be date-marked, in letters at least 3 mm high.
Do sweetened drinks need a warning for children?
Fruit drinks and vegetable juice drinks with acesulfame-K, cyclamates or steviol glycosides at their maximum permitted levels state that children nine and under should not have more than two 250 ml servings a day.
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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