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Who should use the classification of food and food products?
Food businesses, traders, consumers, and travellers who want to import, export, or tranship food and food products should identify the appropriate classification of their food or food products.
For example, if a business intends to import frozen pizzas, they have to classify the type of pizza appropriately, depending on the ingredients used. A pizza with meat toppings is classified as Meat & Meat Products, while a pizza with cheese toppings is classified as Processed Food.
What food and food products are listed in the classification?
There are currently 7 categories of food or food products listed in the Classification of Food and Food Products, namely:
- Meat
- Fish
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Shell eggs and processed eggs
- Processed food and food appliances
- Live animals (live poultry & livestock)
- Rice
Food-Health Products
Food-health products that are medicinal in nature are regulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
Food-health products that are non-medicinal in nature and are taken in the form typical of food as part of a daily diet are regulated by SFA. Food-health products that are regulated by SFA include bee pollen, essence of chicken, and herbal jelly.
For more information, see Products in the Food-Health Product Interface.
Live Poultry and Livestock
There are specific requirements and regulations for the import, export and transhipment of live poultry, livestock or live animals. For more information, please see:
What You Need to Know for Import of Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Animal
What You Need to Know for Export/Tranship of Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Animal
Overseas establishments exporting live poultry, livestock or live animals must be accredited by SFA. For more information, please refer to Overseas Accreditation of Specific Food & Food Products.
How do I use the classification?
Before importing or exporting any food and food products, check the classification of your food or food products using the table below or the Food & Related Products Classification Tool to determine the likely classification of your food or food products.
Once you have classified your food or food products, please do the following:
- Ensure you have a valid SFA registration to import food or food products. If not, please apply for one under Import Processed Food Products and Food Appliances using the GoBusiness portal.
- Identify the licence/registration required (and the corresponding supporting documents to be submitted as part of the application for such licence/registration).
- Ensure that you are able to comply with the import/export requirements for the category of food or food products. For more information, see Requirements for Licence / Permit / Registration for Import / Export.
- Obtain the HS code/product code for your food or food products, which you will need for each consignment you import, export, or tranship.
HS Codes or Product Codes
Before you import, export, or tranship, make sure you understand the nature of your food or food products so that you can choose the correct or most relevant HS/product codes to avoid delays in processing your consignments.
Where can I find the classification?
The classification of food and food products is in the table below along with the HS/Product Codes.
| Classification of Food and Food Products | ||
|---|---|---|
| Food Group | What is included | HS/Product Codes |
Meat & Meat Products 
| Whole carcasses or parts of any animal or bird. These can be chilled, frozen, processed, or in canned form. They include products containing meat, animal oil, and fat such as chicken meat powder and lard. Examples of processed meat products include beef rendang, salami pizza, and bak kwa (BBQ meat slices). | Product codes for Meat & Meat Products |
Fish & Fish Products 
| Any of the following varieties of marine, brackish water, or freshwater:
These can be live, chilled, frozen, processed or in canned form. | Product codes for Fish & Fish Products |
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables 
| Raw and unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Examples include raw (fresh) ginseng and fresh durians. Excluded: Fruits and vegetables that have undergone some processing such as cutting, peeling, canning, and freezing. These are regulated as processed food. | Product codes for Fresh Fruits & Vegetables |
Eggs & Egg Products 
| Shell eggs | Product codes for Shell Eggs |
Processed Eggs
| Product codes for Processed Eggs | |
Processed Food & Food Appliances  
| Processed Food All food products and supplements of a food nature that are not grouped as meat products, fish products, or fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. Examples include:
| Product codes for Processed Food |
Food Appliances Any item that is meant to come into contact with food and beverages and does not require electricity* to function. Food ware such as:
Food utensils such as:
 Appliances that require electricity are not regulated by SFA. You may want to use the Singapore Customs HS/CA Product Code search tool instead.
| Product codes for Food Appliances | |
Live animals (live poultry & livestock) 
| Live poultry, livestock and animal are domestic birds and animals meant for the purpose of slaughter for consumption. Examples include live chickens and live pigs. | Product codes for Livestock and Animal Products |
Rice 
| Raw rice | Product codes for Raw Rice |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common mistakes made by importers, exporters or transhippers when classifying their products?
Who can I turn to for help if I am uncertain how to classify my food or food products?
For more information
You can contact us via the SFA Online Feedback Form.
Last Updated 07 Nov 2024
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