FOOD AND HEALTH ESSENTIALS

Singapore changes to food regulations now in effect

Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has implement a number of changes to that country’s food regulations, effective April 1, 2017.

The changes, which were published Singapore’s Government Gazette at the end of March, were reportedly undertaken in an effort to make Singapore’s food requirements more consistent with those applicable in other countries, thereby helping to reduce barriers to international trade. The many changes include provisions applicable to the use of new food additives and ingredients, extensions regarding the use of existing food additives, and more restrictive limits on the use of inorganic arsenic and lead.

Food additives now permitted under the revised food regulations include colouring agents spirulina extract and beet red, nutrient supplements beta-palmitin and sodium ferrous citrate, and flavour enhancer L-theanine. In addition, the AVA has extended the use of Sulphur dioxide and sulphites, quillaia extracts, and polyglycerol polyricinoleate.

Regarding maximum limits for incidental food constituents, the changes lower the maximum limit for lead in infant formula to 0.01 parts per million (ppm) and establish a new limit for inorganic arsenic in polished rice at 0.2 ppm. 

The full text of the AVA’s amendment to Singapore’s food regulations is available here.