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Selling clothing, textiles and bedding in Singapore

In Singapore, apparel, mattresses and bedding are general consumer goods under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations 2011, run by the Consumer Product Safety Office. There is no pre-market registration: goods meet an applicable ISO, IEC, EN or ASTM standard, and the CPSO can stop the sale of unsafe goods.

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

Regulator
Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO), overseen by CCS
Main text
Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations 2011
Before sale
No registration or approval; post-market surveillance
Children's drawcords
EN 14682 or ASTM F1816
Beds and mattresses
EN 1725 listed by the CPSO
Packaging
Yearly NEA report above S$10 million turnover

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is it apparel, bedding or another general consumer good under the CGSR? Read more
  2. 2Which ISO, IEC, EN or ASTM standard applies, and is there a test report against it? Read more
  3. 3Is it children's clothing with cords or drawstrings? Read more
  4. 4What happens if a safety problem is found after sale? Read more
  5. 5Is the quantity stated, and does the business report packaging to NEA? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Textiles under the CGSR

How clothing and bedding are regulated, and who answers for them.

  • The CGSR, in force since 1 April 2011, covers general consumer goods not regulated under other laws, including apparel, furniture, mattresses and bedding.
  • The CGSR relies on post-market surveillance; there is no requirement for pre-market testing, certification or approval by the CPSO.
  • In an investigation, the CPSO may ask for test reports and information showing that reasonable means were taken to meet the safety requirements.
  • Suppliers include manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and anyone who gives the product as a prize or gift for commercial purposes.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the test reports and supplier information behind each product with it, ready when the CPSO asks. Ask about this

Safety standards

The standards the CPSO lists for clothing and bedding.

  • Goods with an applicable ISO, IEC, EN or ASTM standard meet at least one such standard plus any additional CPSO requirements; others meet applicable regional or national standards.
  • For children's clothing, the CPSO lists EN 14682 or ASTM F1816 on cords and drawstrings on upper outerwear.
  • For beds and mattresses, the CPSO lists EN 1725.
  • For adult jewellery, the CPSO lists ASTM F2999; for children's sunglasses, EN ISO 12312.

How we help: Upload a test report and Compliant Always reads it against the standard the CPSO lists, and keeps it with the style and the lot. Ask about this

Stop-sale and safety issues

What the CPSO can do, and what suppliers do when they find a problem.

  • The CPSO can stop the sale of unsafe goods and publicise them; once a good is publicised as unsafe, supplying it is not allowed.
  • The CPSO can also direct suppliers to inform users of the potential dangers of the goods.
  • Suppliers who learn that goods they sell are unsafe should stop selling them immediately and notify the CPSO.
  • Failing to follow a direction, or selling after a public notice, carries a fine of up to $2,000 or up to 12 months' imprisonment on first conviction, and up to $10,000 or two years after that.

How we help: Compliant Always ties each document to the batch it covers, so a question about one batch is answered from the record. Ask about this

Quantity and packaging

Rules that apply to the pack whatever is inside it.

  • It is an offence to supply pre-packaged goods with less than the quantity stated on the package or label.
  • Net content is stated in metric units.
  • Companies with annual turnover above S$10 million that supply goods in Singapore and import or use packaging report packaging data and 3R plans to NEA each year under the Resource Sustainability Act.
  • Records behind the packaging report are kept for five years.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps your packaging data with each product, ready for the yearly report to NEA. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Manufacturer or brandMeeting an applicable safety standard and the CPSO's additional requirements.Test reports and specifications kept with each style.
ImporterSupplying only safe goods, and acting on a CPSO direction.Supplier test reports read and dated before the goods arrive.
Retailer or online sellerStopping sale and notifying the CPSO when a product turns out to be unsafe.The documents behind each product shown when a buyer or the CPSO asks.

Questions businesses ask

Do clothes need to be registered in Singapore?
No. Apparel is a general consumer good under the CGSR, which relies on post-market surveillance. There is no requirement for pre-market testing, certification or approval by the CPSO.
Which law covers clothing safety in Singapore?
The Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations 2011, administered by the Consumer Product Safety Office. They cover apparel, furniture, mattresses and bedding among other general consumer goods.
Which standard applies to drawstrings on children's clothing?
The CPSO lists EN 14682 or ASTM F1816 for cords and drawstrings on children's upper outerwear.
Which standard applies to mattresses?
The CPSO lists EN 1725 for beds and mattresses.
Do I need a test report to sell clothing?
Not before sale. But in an investigation the CPSO may ask for test reports and information showing reasonable means were taken to meet the safety requirements.
What happens if a garment is found to be unsafe?
The CPSO can direct suppliers to stop supplying it and inform users of the dangers, and can publicise it as unsafe. Selling it after that is an offence.
What should I do if I find a safety problem with a product I sell?
Stop supplying it immediately and notify the CPSO.
Do I need to report packaging to NEA?
If your company supplies goods in Singapore, imports or uses packaging, and has annual turnover above S$10 million, it reports packaging data and 3R plans to NEA each year.
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.

Get in touch

No card, no account, and no call to book. Tell us what you make and where you sell it, and we will come back to you.

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