WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/SGP/39 
2 February 2011 
 (11-0517) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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 numbe r(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 practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:   Draft Proposed Food (Amendment) Regulations 2011  
Language(s):   English  Number of pages:   - 
6. Description of content:  The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has 
reviewed the Food Regulations and proposes the following amendments: 
(i) allow the use of new food additives a nd extension of the approval of currently 
permitted food additives to more food categor ies.  These food additives belong to the 
functional groups:  anti-caking agents, sweeten ing agents, anti-oxidants, solvents for 
flavouring agent, colouring matter, emulsifi ers and stabilisers, nutrient supplements 
and general purpose food additives. 
(ii) incorporation of specific limits for cad mium in dried mushroom as well as cocoa and 
cocoa products. 
(iii) incorporation of new/revised food stan dards for foods containing sweetening agents, 
irradiated foods, wholegrains, frozen meat a nd fish, fats and oils, fat spread, natural 
mineral water, infants' food/infant fo rmula, special purpose foods containing 
phytosterols, phytostanols and their esters. 
(iv) new requirements in the area of food labelling:  net quantity declaration of prepacked 
foods, drained weight declaration of food packed in liquid media and weight declaration of frozen foods.  Prepacked foods containing ingredients which are potential food allergens will n eed to be specifically labelled to inform consumers of 
the presence of these ingredients.  The list of prepacked foods re quired to be date-
marked with the expiry date will be e xpanded to include ready-to-eat minimally 
processed fruits and vegetables (such as cu t fruits and vegetables) as these products 
are highly perishable.  A list of permitted health claims, and the criteria for their use 
on food labels and advertisements are specifi ed in the amendments to the regulations. G/SPS/N/SGP/39 
Page 2  
 
  (v) revised requirements for import permit declaration (for imported foods):  food 
products with no brand name at  the time of application for import permit will have to 
be declared using either: the name of the overseas manufacturer or the intended brand names.  This is important for source tracing purposes. 
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 stan dard?  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 Additives (CODEX STAN 192-1995) 
Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985) 
Codex Standard for Natural Mine ral Waters (CODEX STAN 108-1981) 
[ ] 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 international standard?   
 [X] Yes   [ ] No 
The proposed amendments are made based on generally accepted sound scientific evidence 
and international practice, su ch as recommendations by Codex.  
 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:  None   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  1 April 2011 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  1 April 2011 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  1 April 2011 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  3 April 2011 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:     G/SPS/N/SGP/39 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
A soft copy of the proposed regulations is available from:  
Regulatory Administration Department 
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority 
5 Maxwell Road #18-00 Tower Block MND Complex 
Singapore 069110 Tel.:  +(65) 6325 1226  Fax.:  +(65) 6324 4563 E-mail:  adelene_yap@ava.gov.sg