G/SPS/N/SGP/61  
 
18 September 2018  
(18-5725) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: SINGAPORE  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Food 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practic able: 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2019 . 
Language(s): English.  Number of pages: (Legal text is being drafted)  
6. Description of content: The Agri -Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has 
completed a review of the Food Regulations and proposes the following amendments:  
a. To allow the use of the following new food additives:  
(i) 1,3-propanediol as a carrier solvent for flavouring agents, for use unde r good 
manufacturing practice ; 
(ii) Four new salts of currently permitted amino acids, for use in food:  
L-Isoleucine monohydrochloride, L -Leucine monohydrochloride, L -Lysine 
monohydrochloride, L -Lysine acetate ; 
(iii) Seven  new enzymes for use in food under good manufacturing practice: 
Enzyme . 
Enzyme  EC Number  Production organism  Donor organism  Donor gene  
Alpha -acetolactate  4.1.1.5  Bacillus licheniformis  Bacillus brevis  Alpha -acetolactate  
Decarboxylase  decarboxylase  
Aqualysin  3.4.21.111  Bacillus subtillis  Thermus aquaticus  Aqualysin 1  
Beta-amylase  3.2.1.2  Bacillus licheniformis  Bacillus flexus  Beta-amylase  
Beta-galactosidase  3.2.1.23  Bacillus licheniformis  Bifidobacterium bifidum  Beta-galactosidase  
(or lactase)  (or lactase)  
Endo-1,4-beta- 3.2.1.8  Bacillus subtilis  Pseudoalteromonas  Endo-1,4-beta- 
xylanase  haloplanktis  xylanase  
Glucoamylase  3.2.1.3  Aspergillus niger  Gloeephyllum trabeum  Glucoamylase  
(or amyloglucosidase)  (or amyloglucosidase)  
Phosphatidylinositol  3.1.4.11  Pseudomonas fluor escens  Isolated from soil  Phosphatidylinositol  
phospholipase C  phospholipase C  G/SPS/N/SGP/61  
 
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  (iv) Four new emulsifiers/stabilisers and 6 new general purpose food additives for 
use in food under good manufacturing practice:  
Emulsifiers/Stabilisers  General Purpose Food Additives  
1. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,  1. Sodium fumarate (INS 365)  
 enzymatically hydrolysed (Cellulose gum,  2. Polyvinylpyrrolidone, insoluble  
 enzymatically hydrolysed) (INS 469)    (polyvinylpolypyrrolidone) (INS 1202)  
2. Ethyl hydroxyethyl cell ulose (INS 467)  3. Triammonium citrate (INS 380)  
3. Potassium caseinate  4. Cyclotetraglucose (INS 1504(i))  
4. Tamarind seed polysaccharide (INS 437)  5. Cyclotetraglucose syrup (INS 1504(ii))  
 6. Magnesium hydroxide carbonate (INS 504(ii))  
(v) Paprika extract ( INS 160c(ii)) as a permitted colouring matter, for use in food 
under good manufacturing practice.  
(vi) Monk fruit extract (containing 20% to 90% w/w mogroside V) as a permitted 
sweetening agent, for use in food und er good manufacturing practice.  
b. To extend the use of the following existing food additives to additional food 
categories:  
(i) Propionic acid (and its sodium, calcium and potassium salts) (INS 280, 281, 282 
and 283) for use in food under good manufacturing practice.  
(ii) Dimethyl polysiloxane (INS 900a) for use  in "Lactobacillus milk drinks or 
cultured milk drinks", "Flavoured milk", "Ready -to-drink coffee" and "Ready -to-
drink tea", at levels up to 10 ppm  
(iii) Butylated hydroxyanisole (INS 320) and butylated hydroxytoluene (INS 321) for 
use in "Breakfast cereals", at  levels up to 200 ppm and 100 ppm respectively, 
calculated on the fat or oil basis  
(iv) Nisin (INS 234) in "Liquid egg analogues"  
(v) Benzoic acid (and its sodium and potassium salts) (INS 210, 211 and 212) as 
well as sorbic acid (and its sodium, potassium and calc ium salts) (INS 200, 201, 
202 and 203), in "Custard fillings and toppings (egg -based)" and "Fillings and 
toppings based on fat emulsion"; at levels up to 1000 ppm, when used singly . 
(vi) Steviol glycosides (INS 960a) for use in the following food categories:  
Food categories  Maximum permitted levels (ppm)  
Edible ices (including sherbet and sorbet)  270 
Dairy -based desserts and dessert mixes  330 
Fat-based desserts and dessert mixes,  330 
excluding dairy -based dessert products  
Fruit-based desserts and dessert mixes,  350 
including fruit flavoured water -based desserts  
Cereal -based and starch -based desserts  165 
and dessert mixes  
Egg-based desserts and dessert mixes  330 
Snacks: ready -to-eat, prepacked, dry,  170 
savoury starch pro ducts and coated nuts  
Decorations, toppings (non -fruit)  330 
and sweet sauces  
Candied fruit  40 
Vegetables and seaweeds in vinegar, oil,  330 
brine, or soybean sauce  
Canned or bottled (pasteurised) fruit  330 
Fruit preparations  330 
(including pulp, purees and fruit toppings)  
Fermented fruit products  115 
Fruit fillings for pastries  330 
Canned or bottled (pasteurised)  70 
or retort pouch vegetables and seaweeds  
Fermented vegetable and seaweed products,  200 
excluding fermented soybean products  
Jams, jellies and marmalades  360 
Fruit-based spreads, excluding jams,  330 
jellies and marmalades  
Drinks consisting of a mixture of a non - 200 
alcoholic drink  and beer, cider, perry, spirits or wine  G/SPS/N/SGP/61  
 
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  c. To delete the maximum limits for copper in food, currently specified un der the Tenth 
Schedule of the Food Regulations. However, maximum limits for copper in various 
types of edible fats and oils will be specified under Regulation 78 of the Food 
Regulations:  
• 0.1 ppm (for refined fats and oils)  
• 0.4 ppm (for virgin fats and oils ; and cold pressed fats and oils), and  
• 0.4 ppm (for lard, rendered pork fat, premier jus (oleo stock) and dripping 
(edible tallow)  
d. To include a maximum limit of 0.35 ppm for inorganic arsenic in husked rice  
e. To delete the maximum limit of 5 ppm for formaldehyde in smoked meat, smoked 
sausage and smoked fish  
f. To delete the requirement for shell eggs treated with mineral hydrocarbons to be 
marked with the word "SEALED"  
g. To extend the use of the health claim on blood cholesterol lowering effect, currently  
permitted for barley beta -glucan, to oat beta -glucan:  
"Barley beta -glucans/Oat beta -glucans have been shown to lower/reduce blood 
cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary 
heart disease."  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
 Codex General Standard for Food A dditives (CODEX STAN 192 -1995),  
Codex Advisory List of Amino Acids for use in Foods for Special Dietary Uses 
Intended for Inf ants and Young Children (CAC/GL 10 -1979),  
 Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CODEX STAN 210),  
 Codex Standard for Named Animal Fats (CODEX STAN 211 -1999),  
 Codex Standard for Edible Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual Standards 
(CODEX STAN 19-1981)  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant int ernational standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : January 2019  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : January 2019  G/SPS/N/SGP/61  
 
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  11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : January 2019  
[X] Trade facilitating measure (approval of use of food additives, removal of 
maximum limits for copper and formaldehyde, and extension of health claim to oat 
beta-glucan) . 
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 17 November 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
The public consultation document and proposed regulations will be made available at the 
following website: http://www .ava.gov.sg/legislation   
(Select "Sale of Food Act", then click on "Consultation on Draft Food (Amendment) 
Regulations 2019" and "Draft Food (Amendment) Regulations 2019)" . 
Alternatively, please write in to:  
Regulatory Administration Group  
Agri-Food and Ve terinary Authority  
52 Jurong Gateway Road #14 -01 
Singapore 608550  
Tel: +(65) 6805 2912  
Fax: +(65) 6334 1831  
E-mail: WTO_Contact@ava.gov.sg; adelene_yap@ava.gov.sg