Food retail licence

Where this applies

This record is scoped to Singapore. Scope is part of the claim: a rule that binds one part of a country does not bind the whole of it, and this library states the scope its sources state.

Instrument

Environmental Public Health Act 1987, administered by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

Who it binds

Food retail operators in Singapore — restaurants, catering businesses, coffeeshops, canteens, food courts, food-preparing stalls, butchers, private markets and mobile food vehicles

What it requires

SFA states plainly that "operating a food retail business without a SFA licence is an offence. Appropriate actions will be taken against offenders in accordance to the prevailing laws." Licence type depends on the business (Food Shop, Food Stall, Supermarket, or — for public hawker-centre stalls — a Hawker Stall Licence applied for through the National Environment Agency); temporary event stalls need a Temporary Fair Permit. Applications go through the GoBusiness Licensing portal.

Related records and requirements

• Food business licence (Hong Kong SAR China) — Hong Kong's FEHD issues a food business licence only to premises meeting prescribed statutory safety and hygiene standards.
• Food business license (China) — A food production, sales or catering business in mainland China must obtain a license, except agricultural-product sellers and packaged-food-only retailers, who file a simpler registration instead.
• Food business licence or notification (Japan) — The 32 sector types named in Japan's Food Sanitation Act Enforcement Order require a prefectural governor's licence before a food business may operate.