新闻与见解

The recent Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025 aims to align food labelling requirements in Singapore with international standards, particularly those of the Codex Alimentarius. Key updates include new rules for gluten-related claims, expanded use of generic terms in ingredient lists, and clearer label ling requirements.

Introduction

The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025 was officially gazetted on 31 January 2025, with the new regulations set to take effect on 30 January 2026. These amendments introduce significant changes to Singapore’s Food Regulations, a subsidiary legislation under the Sale of Food Act which regulates matters relating to, inter alia, the manufacturing, preparation, or preservation of food and food contact articles. 

A key objective of these amendments is to align Singapore’s food labelling requirements for prepacked food with international standards, particularly those established in the Codex Alimentarius, a globally recognized set of food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (“FAO”) and World Health Organization (“WHO”) to promote food safety, quality, and fair trade. The revised regulations incorporate several Codex standards, including the Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985) the Codex General Guidelines on Claims (CXG 1-1979) and the Codex Standard for Foods for Special Dietary Use for Persons Intolerant to Gluten (CXS 118-1979) These updates were finalised following a public consultation held from 28 September 2022 to 27 November 2022, during which industry feedback was considered.

Key Amendments Introduced

1. Regulation 250B: New Provisions for Gluten-Related Claims

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of Regulation 250B, which establishes clear definitions and criteria for gluten-related claims. To prevent misleading labelling and ensure consistency, specific definitions for the terms “gluten” “gluten-free food”, “naturally gluten-free food” and “reduced gluten food” are now expressly defined. Additionally, naturally gluten-free foods can no longer be marketed using the terms “special dietary”, “special dietetic” or any words of similar meaning.

2. First Schedule: Expansion of Generic Terms in Ingredient Declarations

The amendments also replace the First Schedule of the Food Regulations (“First Schedule”), expanding the permitted use of generic terms in ingredient lists. The revised First Schedule broadens existing definitions, allowing for more flexibility in labelling while introducing new generic terms such as “Caseinate,” “Cheese,” “Cocoa Butter,” and “Poultry Meat.” However, in certain cases, stricter requirements now apply. For instance, while the term “flavouring” can still be used, manufacturers must now specify its source—whether “natural,” “nature-identical,”, “artificial,” or a combination of these.

3. Regulation 5: Refinements to General Labelling Requirements

Significant refinements have also been made to Regulation 5, which governs general labelling requirements. Notably, processing aids are now exempt from being listed as ingredients, aligning with international practices. Additionally, for greater clarity and consistency, ingredient lists must now be clearly identified with a heading such as “Ingredients.” The changes include revisions to existing wording and the addition of new subsections under Regulation 5.

4. Regulation 6: Refinements to General Labelling Requirements

Finally, Regulation 6 which outlines exemptions from Regulation 5, has also been refined. The scope of these exemptions has been expanded to cover a much wider range of prepackaged foods, provided that the packaging is small, with the largest surface area measuring less than 10 square centimetres.

Conclusion

The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025 adopts a balanced approach, refining certain regulations while tightening others to improve transparency and consumer awareness, rather than imposing uniformly stricter standards. These changes underscore Singapore’s commitment to aligning its food safety and labelling regulations with international standards. Food manufacturers involved in prepackaged food should take the necessary steps to understand and implement these updates ahead of their enforcement in 2026, ensuring smooth compliance within the provided transition period. Should you have any queries on this update or generally, please feel free to contact any one of the undersigned.

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