A draft food safety law proposing several changes to current requirements has been presented to government officials in Singapore. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment introduced the Food Safety and Security Bill for its first reading in Parliament earlier this week. The draft law will be debated at the second reading, which is planned for January 2025.
The bill aims to consolidate and refresh existing food-related legislation and strengthen Singapore’s food safety controls to better protect consumers and public health. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) plans to implement the new requirements in phases over the next few years, starting in 2025. As an example of consolidation, importers will only need to refer to the bill governing the requirements for importing food commodities instead of looking at different acts.
Selected changes The law will not prescribe operational details but require licensees to maintain food control plans. Currently, businesses must comply with pre-licensing requirements and conditions that describe how they should carry out operations to ensure food is safe. Coverage of food safety legislation will be extended beyond the sale of food to its supply, which includes donations and free distribution.
Requirements will be based on the food safety risk of the activity. Key food distribution players will be required to keep records for traceability and recalls so that unsafe food and food-contact articles can be removed from the market in a tim.
