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Selling health supplements in Singapore

In Singapore, health supplements in dose forms such as capsules and tablets come under the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). They need no HSA approval or licence, but dealers answer for safety, quality and labelling. Supplements in the form of food, such as drinks and biscuits, are food under the Singapore Food Agency.

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

Regulator
Health Sciences Authority (HSA); SFA for food-form products
Before sale
No HSA approval or licence; voluntary notification is possible
Who answers
Dealers: importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and sellers
Heavy metals
Arsenic 5 ppm, cadmium 0.3 ppm, lead 10 ppm, mercury 0.5 ppm
Label language
English
Claims
Health support claims only; no medicinal claims

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is it a health supplement under HSA, or a food under SFA? Read more
  2. 2Is each ingredient allowed, and within any restriction? Read more
  3. 3Is it within the heavy metal, microbial and vitamin and mineral limits? Read more
  4. 4Does the English label carry the required particulars? Read more
  5. 5Are the claims on the label and in adverts allowed? Read more
  6. 6Is the supporting information on file in case HSA asks? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Classification and controls

Which regulator a supplement falls under, and what HSA requires before sale.

  • A health supplement supplements a diet to support, maintain, enhance or improve healthy functions, contains ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics or natural extracts, and is taken in small unit doses such as capsules, softgels, tablets, liquids and syrups.
  • Products in the form of food and beverages, such as biscuits, coffee and juice, are not health supplements; food and supplements of a food nature come under SFA.
  • SFA regulates food-health products that are non-medicinal, part of the daily diet, taken without a defined dosage and in a form typical of food, such as bee pollen, essence of chicken and herbal jelly.
  • Health supplements are not subject to approval or licensing by HSA for import, manufacture or sale; dealers must make sure their products are not harmful and conform with HSA's guidelines.
  • The company placing a supplement on the market may voluntarily notify HSA, and should hold supporting information on file to show compliance when HSA asks.

How we help: Compliant Always records how each product is classified and why, and keeps the supporting information HSA may ask for with the product. Ask about this

Prohibited and restricted ingredients

What a health supplement must not contain.

  • Supplements must not contain ingredients controlled under the Poisons Act or the Misuse of Drugs Act, or on the ASEAN negative list for health supplements.
  • Ingredients derived from human parts, ingredients that may affect human health, and ingredients that can carry animal-transmissible diseases such as TSE are not allowed.
  • Ingredients under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act need a CITES import permit from NParks.
  • Active substances not stated on the label, and active ingredients with pharmacological properties that could be used to treat or prevent disease, are not allowed; HSA prohibits medicinal ingredients such as steroids.
  • Some substances may be used only with restrictions such as maximum daily doses or label specifications, set out in HSA's guidelines on prohibited and restricted ingredients.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your formula against the prohibited and restricted lists, and keeps the supplier's evidence for each ingredient with the product. Ask about this

Heavy metal, microbial and nutrient limits

The limits HSA sets for contaminants and for vitamins and minerals.

  • Heavy metals must not exceed arsenic 5 ppm, cadmium 0.3 ppm, lead 10 ppm and mercury 0.5 ppm.
  • Total aerobic microbial count must not exceed 10⁵ CFU per g or ml, yeast and mould 5 × 10² CFU, and E. coli, salmonellae and Staphylococcus aureus must be absent.
  • Oral liquid complementary health products must not exceed 1,000 ppm of diethylene glycol or of ethylene glycol.
  • Maximum daily limits apply for the general adult population, for example vitamin C 1,000 mg, vitamin D 0.025 mg (1,000 IU), iron 15 mg and zinc 15 mg.
  • Higher levels for specific adult groups must be justified and labelled for use on the recommendation of healthcare professionals.
  • Quality standards cover stability and shelf life, storage and distribution, and manufacturing, packaging and assembly conditions.

How we help: Upload a certificate of analysis and Compliant Always reads it against HSA's limits, with the source beside each line. Ask about this

Labelling

What a health supplement label shows.

  • The label should be prominent and conspicuous, with adequate and truthful information in English.
  • It shows the product name and brand, dosage form, name and quantity of active ingredients, indications or intended purpose, dosage and directions, batch number and expiry date.
  • It also shows the country of manufacture, the name and address of the local importer (or product owner if made locally), contraindications and other warnings if any, storage conditions and pack size.

How we help: Compliant Always sets HSA's label particulars beside your artwork, so a missing particular shows before the product ships. Ask about this

Claims and advertising

What a supplement may say about itself.

  • Health supplements may carry general claims, such as support for good health, or specific claims to maintain or enhance a body function or structure, such as supporting healthy joints.
  • They must not be labelled, advertised or promoted for any medicinal purpose, including implied claims to treat or prevent diseases and disorders.
  • Claims should be truthful and substantiated by good quality evidence, which the dealer holds and provides to HSA when required.
  • Testimonials or recommendations by healthcare professionals should not be used; the names and logos of HSA cannot be used.
  • Adverts are not subject to permit approval, except for quasi-medicinal products such as products containing only vitamins and minerals.

How we help: Compliant Always reads each claim against HSA's guide and keeps the evidence behind it with the product, ready when HSA or a retailer asks. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterSupplying only products that are safe and conform with HSA's guidelines, and being named on the label.Supplier certificates and test reports read and dated before supply.
Product ownerThe formula, the label, the claims and the evidence behind them.Formula, label and claims checked, with the substantiation kept together.
ManufacturerQuality, stability and manufacturing standards.Certificates of analysis and stability data kept with each batch.
SellerDealer obligations not to supply harmful or unsafe products.The documents behind each product shown when a buyer asks.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need HSA approval to sell health supplements in Singapore?
No. Health supplements are not subject to approval or licensing by HSA for import, manufacture or sale. Dealers must make sure products are not harmful and conform with HSA's guidelines.
Can I notify HSA of a health supplement?
Yes. The company placing a health supplement on the market may voluntarily notify HSA. It should self-assess the product first and hold supporting information on file to show compliance when HSA asks.
Is my supplement regulated by HSA or SFA?
Supplements in small unit doses, such as capsules, tablets and syrups, are health supplements under HSA. Products in the form of food and beverages, such as biscuits, coffee and juice, are food under SFA.
What heavy metal limits apply to health supplements?
Arsenic 5 ppm, cadmium 0.3 ppm, lead 10 ppm and mercury 0.5 ppm.
Are there maximum vitamin and mineral levels?
Yes. HSA sets maximum daily limits for the general adult population, for example vitamin C 1,000 mg, vitamin D 1,000 IU, iron 15 mg and zinc 15 mg. Higher levels must be justified and labelled accordingly.
What must a health supplement label show?
In English: product and brand name, dosage form, active ingredients and quantities, intended purpose, dosage and directions, batch number, expiry date, country of manufacture, local importer or owner, warnings, storage conditions and pack size.
What claims can a health supplement make?
Claims that support or maintain health, well-being or physiological processes, such as supporting healthy joints. Claims to treat or prevent any disease or disorder are not allowed.
Which ingredients are banned in health supplements?
Substances controlled under the Poisons Act or Misuse of Drugs Act, ingredients from human parts, ingredients carrying TSE risk, undeclared actives, and actives with pharmacological properties for treating disease, among others listed by HSA.
Do supplement adverts need a permit?
Generally not. Quasi-medicinal products, such as those containing only vitamins and minerals, need advertisement and sales promotion permits. Adverts must not be misleading or lead to improper use.
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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