G/TBT/N/SGP/15  
 
16 April 2013  
(13-2020)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  SINGAPORE  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Agri-Food and Veterinary Au thority of Singapore (AVA) 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided  in addition, where applicable):  Food 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft Proposed 
Food (Amendment) Regulations 2013.     
6. Description of content:  The Agri-Food & Veterinary Auth ority of Singapore (AVA) has 
reviewed the Food Regulations and proposes to make an editorial amendment to the 
format for the nutrition information panel (NIP) as specified under the Twelfth Schedule. 
Presently, the NIP format under the Twelfth Schedule requires that the units for nutrients (other than energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate) are to be declared in "g", and further 
specifies that sodium, potassium and cholesterol are to be declared in "mg". This may give 
the erroneous impression that the units for vitamins and minerals (as well as any other nutrient) are to be declared in "g". Some vitamins and minerals ar e added in microgram 
(mcg) quantities, while other vitamins and minerals are added in milligram (mg) 
quantities. In addition, there are other forms of measurements which are commonly used for certain vitamins, such as "I.U" (International Units), and the present NIP format does not reflect such forms of declaration.  
It is proposed to amend the Twelfth Schedule to specify that the nutrients are to be 
declared either in mcg, mg, g or other units of measurement, as appropriate. This will better address the forms of measurement currently employed by the industry.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Health and consumer protection  
8. Relevant documents:   Proposed regulations available from National Enquiry Point     
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    1 August 2013 1 August 2013 
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from the da te of circulation. G/TBT/N/SGP/15 
 
- 2 - 
 
  11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:   
The proposed regulations will be made available at the following website: 
http://www.ava.gov. sg/Legislation/L istOfLegislation/  
Alternatively, please write in to: 
Regulatory Programmes Department 
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority 
5 Maxwell Road #18-00 Tower Block MND Complex Singapore 069110 
Tel.:  +(65) 6325 1226 
Fax.:  +(65) 6220 6068 E-mail:  mailto:adelene_yap@ava.gov.sg