Food Labelling Compliance Check Singapore
Food Labelling Compliance Check for Food Companies
Co-Laboratory provides a complete review of your product label against Singapore’s labelling requirements: ingredient declaration, allergens, the nutrition information panel, Nutri-Grade, the Healthier Choice Symbol, and all nutrition and health claims. We identify the corrections, revise the label on your behalf, or develop it from scratch — so you avoid costly reprinting of your food packaging due to non-compliance.
What It Is
What Is a Food Label Check?
A food label check is a review of everything printed on your food packaging against Singapore’s legal requirements. It covers the name of the food, the ingredient list, the allergen declaration, the net quantity, the date marking, the storage instructions, the country of origin, the lot number, the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, the Nutrition Information Panel, every nutrition or health claim you make, and front-of-pack marks such as Nutri-Grade.
The check tells you three things: what is missing, what is wrong, and what you are not allowed to say. A good check also tells you what you could say. Many products already qualify for claims like “high in dietary fibre” or “low fat” and the owner never knew.
The Singapore Food Agency does not approve labels before you print them. There is no pre-approval step. SFA checks labels after the product is already on the shelf. If something is wrong at that point, the cost is not a correction — it is a reprint, a relabelling job, or a product withdrawal. That is why the check belongs before the print run, not after it.
Important Update
Singapore’s Labelling Rules Changed on 30 January 2026
The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025 came into operation on 30 January 2026. They bring Singapore’s rules in line with international Codex standards. If your label artwork was written before this date and has not been reviewed since, some parts of it may no longer comply.
⚠️ Two changes affect almost every prepacked product
Country of origin is now mandatory on the label. A statement such as “Made in Singapore” or “Product of Malaysia” must appear. This used to be guidance. It is now a requirement.
A lot or batch identification is now mandatory. Every prepacked food must carry an identification number or mark, such as a lot number, a batch number or a serial number, that identifies the producing factory and the production lot. Prepacked fresh whole fruits and vegetables are exempt. If you rely only on a printed expiry date, that is no longer enough.
| What Changed | Before | From 30 January 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Country of origin New | Covered by guidelines | Must be stated on the label, for example “Made in France” |
| Lot identification New | Not required | An identification number or mark is required — lot, batch or serial number — identifying the factory and production lot. Prepacked fresh whole fruits and vegetables are exempt |
| Ingredient list heading | No heading required | The section must carry a heading, for example “Ingredients” |
| Processing aids | Unclear whether they had to be listed | Clearly excluded from the ingredient list |
| Water in the ingredient list | Generally listed | Not required when it is part of brine, syrup or broth, when it evaporates during production, when it makes up less than 5% of the finished product by volume for a liquid food or by weight for a viscous food, or when it only rehydrates a dehydrated ingredient in an equivalent amount |
| Carry-over additives | Unclear | Must be declared if the additive performs a technological function in the finished food |
| Flavourings | No stated qualifiers | May still be declared simply as “flavour” or “flavouring”. The qualifiers “natural”, “nature identical” and “artificial” are permitted but are optional |
| Fish species | Generic naming | The species must be stated if a fish is named on the label |
| Gluten-free claims New | No legal definition | Gluten-free means 20 mg/kg of gluten or less. Reduced gluten means more than 20 and up to 100 mg/kg. A naturally gluten-free food cannot be described as “special dietary” or “special dietetic” |
Source: Singapore Food Agency, Labelling Requirements for Food, and the Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025. This table is a summary and is not legal advice.
Already printed a large stock of labels? Tell us. We will check what you have, tell you which parts are still acceptable, and where a correction sticker is enough instead of a full reprint.
Scope
What a Food Label Check Covers
We work through 18 to 25 points on every label. The exact number depends on your product category — some products carry requirements that others do not. Below are the 18 points that apply to almost every prepacked food. We tell you which ones apply to yours, and which extra ones your category adds.
1. Name of the food
The name must describe the true nature of the food and must not mislead. Brand names alone are not enough.
2. Ingredient list
All ingredients in descending order of proportion by weight, under a clear heading such as “Ingredients”.
3. Allergen declaration
The eight allergen groups Singapore requires. Missing allergens are the most common cause of food recalls.
4. Food additives
Permitted additives only, named with their functional class, and within the permitted level for your food type.
5. Compound ingredients
When an ingredient is itself a mixture, its own components may need to be broken out on your label.
6. Net quantity
Net weight or net volume, in the correct unit and the correct position on the pack.
7. Date marking
“Use by” or “Best before”, in the correct format, and supported by a shelf life study you can defend.
8. Storage instructions
Needed where the date marking depends on the storage condition, for example “Keep refrigerated below 4°C”.
9. Country of origin
Mandatory since 30 January 2026. It must be a clear statement, for example “Made in Singapore”.
10. Lot identification
Mandatory since 30 January 2026. A lot, batch or serial number identifying the factory and production run. Fresh whole fruits and vegetables are exempt.
11. Manufacturer or importer details
The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, importer or local vendor, as the case requires.
12. Nutrition Information Panel
Whether you need one, and if so whether the format, nutrients, units and serving size are all correct.
13. Nutrition claims
Claims such as “low fat” or “sugar free” each have a legal threshold. We check your figures against them.
14. Health claims
Nutrient function and other function claims must be truthful and substantiated. Disease risk reduction claims must be gazetted first.
15. Nutri-Grade mark
For beverages. We confirm your grade, and whether the mark must be printed and where.
16. Healthier Choice Symbol
Whether your product qualifies, under which category, and which tagline you may use with it.
17. Prohibited and misleading wording
Words that suggest a food treats, prevents or cures a condition are not allowed. Nor is wording that misleads.
18. Language, legibility and placement
English is required. Text must be legible, and certain particulars must appear together in the same field of vision.
Some categories need more than 18 points. Irradiated foods, genetically modified foods, organic and “natural” claims, special purpose foods, infant and follow-up formula, alcoholic drinks, and products you plan to export all carry extra labelling requirements on top of the list above. That is what takes a full check from 18 points to as many as 25. We confirm which apply to your product before we quote.
Plans & Pricing
Food Label Check Plans and Prices
Three ways to work with us. The difference is how much of the work you do and how much we do. Pick the one that matches how much time you have.
Advisory
- You send us your draft label
- We check it against every requirement
- We tell you what is wrong and why it is wrong
- You make the edits yourself
- You send it back and we confirm whether it is now correct
Editorial
- You send us your draft label
- We check it against every requirement
- We do the editing for you
- You receive finished, compliant label copy
- Send it straight to your designer or printer
Label From Scratch
- You have a product idea but no label yet
- Send us your recipe and product details
- We write the whole label from scratch
- Ingredient list, allergens, nutrition panel, claims, all required particulars
- You receive a complete, print-ready label content pack
Food Claims Eligibility Check
We look at your product’s numbers and tell you which food claims you are already allowed to make — “low fat”, “sugar free”, “high in dietary fibre”, “source of protein” and the rest. For the claims you want but do not yet qualify for, we tell you how close you are and exactly what the laboratory testing would cost to prove them. Most companies find at least one claim they were entitled to use and were not using.
* These are typical ranges. The final price depends on how many SKUs you have, how complex the product is, and whether laboratory testing is needed to support a Nutrition Information Panel or a claim. We confirm the scope and send a fixed quote before any work begins. One SKU means one unique recipe and pack size.
Allergens
The 8 Allergens You Must Declare in Singapore
A missing allergen is the single most common reason a food product is recalled in Singapore. These eight groups must be declared in the ingredient list, in descending order of proportion by weight. They must be declared even when the amount is very small.
| Allergen Group | What It Includes |
|---|---|
| Cereals containing gluten | Wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and their products |
| Crustaceans | Crayfish, prawns, shrimps, lobsters, crabs and their products |
| Eggs | Eggs from laying hens and other poultry species, and egg products |
| Fish | Fish and fish products, including molluscs such as oysters, clams and scallops |
| Peanuts and soybeans | Peanuts, soybeans and their products |
| Milk | Milk and milk products, including lactose |
| Tree nuts | Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts and their products |
| Sulphites | At a concentration of 10 mg/kg or more |
A note on “may contain” wording. Precautionary statements such as “may contain traces of nuts” do not replace a proper allergen declaration. If an allergen is an ingredient, it must be named in the ingredient list. We check both parts, and we check that your precautionary wording is supported by what actually happens in your production line.
Nutrition Panel
Do You Need a Nutrition Information Panel?
In Singapore, nutrition labelling and claims are regulated by the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Board. A Nutrition Information Panel, usually called an NIP, is mandatory in four situations:
You make a claim
Any nutrition claim or health claim on the pack makes an NIP compulsory. “High in fibre” on the front means a panel on the back.
Edible fats and oils
All edible fats and oils must carry a Nutrition Information Panel, whether or not you make any claim.
Nutri-Grade beverages
Beverages within the Nutri-Grade scope must carry an NIP. Grades C and D must also print the Nutri-Grade mark.
Special purpose foods
Foods for special dietary or special medical purposes have their own labelling requirements, including an NIP.
When an NIP is required, it must show energy in kcal or kJ, protein in grams, fat in grams and carbohydrate in grams, plus every nutrient you have made a claim about. Values may be declared per 100 g or per 100 ml, or per serving with the serving size stated, or both.
Even when it is not compulsory, many companies add a panel anyway. Supermarket buyers ask for one. Export markets ask for one. And shoppers increasingly look for one. If you need the laboratory results behind the panel, see our nutrition testing service.
Food Claims
Food Claims: What You Are Allowed to Say
A nutrition claim is a statement about what is in your food. Every claim has a threshold your product must meet, and every claim requires a Nutrition Information Panel to support it. The table below covers the claims Singapore food companies ask about most often.
| Claim | Condition (solid foods, per 100 g) | Condition (drinks, per 100 ml) |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar free | ≤ 0.5 g sugars | ≤ 0.5 g sugars |
| Low sugar | ≤ 5 g sugars | ≤ 2.5 g sugars |
| No added sugar | No free sugars, and no ingredient containing free sugars, added during processing | |
| Fat free | ≤ 0.15 g fat | ≤ 0.15 g fat |
| Low fat | ≤ 3 g fat | ≤ 1.5 g fat |
| Saturated fat free | ≤ 0.5 g saturated fat, and trans fat is ≤ 1% of total fat | |
| Low saturated fat | ≤ 1.5 g saturated fat, and saturated fat is ≤ 10% of energy | |
| Trans fat free | < 0.5 g trans fat per 100 g | |
| Cholesterol free | Foods from plant sources only: 0 mg cholesterol. Other foods: < 5 mg cholesterol and the food also meets the low saturated fat condition | |
| Low cholesterol | ≤ 20 mg cholesterol, ≤ 1.5 g saturated fat, and saturated fat ≤ 10% of energy | |
| Sodium free / salt free | ≤ 5 mg sodium per 100 g | |
| Very low sodium | ≤ 40 mg sodium per 100 g | |
| Low sodium | ≤ 120 mg sodium per 100 g | |
| Source of dietary fibre | ≥ 3 g per 100 g, or ≥ 3 g per 100 ml, or ≥ 1.5 g per 100 kcal | |
| High in dietary fibre | ≥ 6 g per 100 g, or ≥ 6 g per 100 ml, or ≥ 4 g per serving, or ≥ 3 g per 100 kcal | |
| Source of protein | Protein provides at least 12% of the energy in the food, and the recommended daily quantity of the food provides at least 10 g of protein | |
| High in protein | Protein provides at least 20% of the energy in the food, and the recommended daily quantity of the food provides at least 10 g of protein | |
| Energy free | ≤ 1 kcal | ≤ 1 kcal |
| Low energy | ≤ 50 kcal (≤ 100 kcal for bread spreads) | ≤ 8 kcal |
| Source of a vitamin or mineral | The reference quantity provides at least one sixth of the daily allowance | |
| High in a vitamin or mineral | The reference quantity provides at least half of the daily allowance | |
| Reduced / lite / light / less | At least 25% less of the nutrient than the reference food, and the comparison must be stated | |
Summarised from the Health Promotion Board’s guide to nutrition labelling for food products. Conditions are simplified here for readability and some claims carry extra conditions. We check your product against the full conditions during a food label check.
Health claims are different and stricter. A health claim links a food to health, for example “calcium helps build strong bones”. Nutrient function claims and other function claims must be truthful and backed by scientific evidence. Disease risk reduction claims are stricter again: a new one must be gazetted in the Food Regulations before you may print it. Wording that suggests a food treats, prevents or cures a condition is not allowed at all. We check this wording carefully, because it is the part that most often leads to enforcement action.
Front of Pack
Nutri-Grade and the Healthier Choice Symbol
Two marks can appear on the front of your pack in Singapore. One is compulsory for some drinks. The other is voluntary and helps you sell. Both are part of a full food label check.
Nutri-Grade (compulsory for beverages in scope)
If your product is a beverage, its sugar and saturated fat content decide its grade. The worse of the two grades is the grade you get.
≤ 1 g sugar
≤ 0.7 g sat fat
> 1 – 5 g sugar
> 0.7 – 1.2 g sat fat
> 5 – 10 g sugar
> 1.2 – 2.8 g sat fat
> 10 g sugar
> 2.8 g sat fat
Values are per 100 ml. Source: Health Promotion Board.
The gap between a C and a D matters a great deal, because a D grade cannot be advertised across media platforms, apart from a few narrow exceptions such as display at the point of sale. Small recipe changes often move a drink up one grade. If you sell drinks, see our beverage testing service for the laboratory work behind the grade.
Healthier Choice Symbol (voluntary)
The Healthier Choice Symbol identifies products that are healthier than others in the same category. It is voluntary, and it is applied for. Each food category has its own criteria, and there are taglines you may use alongside the symbol, such as “lower in sugar” or “higher in calcium”. Using the wrong tagline, or using the symbol on a product that does not qualify, is a labelling problem we see often.
As part of a food label check we tell you whether your product qualifies, which category it falls under, how close it is if it does not qualify, and which tagline you may use.
What We Find
The Label Mistakes We See Most Often
These are the problems that come up again and again when we check labels for Singapore food companies.
An allergen hidden inside an ingredient
The label lists “seasoning” or “sauce” and the allergen sits inside it, undeclared. This is the most common reason for a food recall in Singapore.
A claim the product does not qualify for
“Low sugar” printed on a product that has 6 g per 100 g. The threshold is 5 g. One gram is the difference between a legal claim and an illegal one.
A nutrition panel with no laboratory results behind it
Values copied from a recipe calculator or from a similar product. If SFA tests the product, the printed numbers must match the test results.
Overseas label reused in Singapore
An imported label that is legal in its home country but is missing the Singapore importer’s name and address, or carries a claim Singapore does not permit.
Wording that sounds medical
“Boosts immunity”, “helps prevent”, “detoxes”. Wording that suggests a food treats or prevents a condition is not permitted.
No lot number and no country of origin
Both became mandatory on 30 January 2026. Older artwork frequently has neither.
Ingredients not in weight order
Ingredients must be listed in descending order of proportion by weight. Listing them in recipe order or alphabetically is not acceptable.
A date marking the shelf life data does not support
A 12-month “best before” printed on a product that was never tested for 12 months. See our shelf life testing.
Who It’s For
Who Needs a Food Label Check?
If your product is prepacked and sold in Singapore, the label is your legal responsibility — even if someone else designed it.
Food Manufacturers & Brands
You are launching a new SKU, changing a recipe, or refreshing your packaging. Check before the print run, not after.
Importers & Distributors
An overseas label is rarely compliant in Singapore as it stands. We tell you what needs to change and prepare the sticker text.
Home-Based & Small Food Businesses
Moving from markets into retail. Retailers will ask for a compliant label before they list you.
Contract Manufacturers & OEM
You produce for other brands. A label check protects you when your client supplies the artwork.
Process
How a Food Label Check Works with Co-Lab
Send us what you have
Artwork, a PDF, a photo of the pack, or just the recipe if you have no label yet. Tell us the product, the pack size, and where you plan to sell it.
We tell you which plan fits
We look at what you sent and recommend advisory, editorial, or creating the label from scratch. Then we send a fixed quote. No work starts before you agree to it.
The check
We work through every point that applies to your product — 18 to 25, depending on the category. You get a clear report: what is missing, what is wrong, why it is wrong, and what the rule actually says.
Testing, if you need it
If you need a Nutrition Information Panel, a Nutri-Grade grade, or proof for a claim, we arrange the laboratory work through our ISO 17025 accredited partner labs.
Editing and finalising
On the editorial and from-scratch plans, we write the finished label content for you. On the advisory plan, you edit and we confirm whether the new version is correct.
Final sign-off before you print
We review the final artwork proof one last time, so that what goes to the printer is what we checked. Then you print with confidence.
Related
Testing That Supports Your Label
A label check tells you what your label must say. These services produce the numbers that go on it.
Nutrition Testing
The laboratory results behind your Nutrition Information Panel and any nutrition claim you want to make.
Beverage Testing
Nutri-Grade grading, beverage nutrition panels and Healthier Choice Symbol scoping for drinks.
Shelf Life Testing
The data behind the “best before” or “use by” date you print on the pack.
Food Laboratory Services
Microbiology, contaminants, heavy metals and the full range of food testing for SFA compliance.
Food Services
Every service in one place — what each one answers, what it costs, and which one your problem belongs to.
Food Spoilage Investigation
A customer says the product tasted sour, looked slimy or smelled off. We name the organism and the process step behind it.
Shelf-Life Extension
When the date you can print is shorter than your distribution needs, this is how it gets pushed out and validated.
Accreditation
Why Accredited Results Matter on a Label
Every number you print on a label should be defensible. If SFA, your importer or your supermarket buyer questions a value, an accredited test report is the proof that answers the question.
Co-Laboratory works only with ISO 17025 and ILAC-MRA accredited partner labs for all testing that supports a label.
FAQ
Common Questions About Food Label Checks
What is a food label check?
A food label check is a review of everything printed on your food packaging against Singapore’s legal requirements. It covers the name of the food, the ingredient list, the allergen declaration, net quantity, date marking, storage instructions, country of origin, lot identification, the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, the Nutrition Information Panel, any nutrition or health claims, and front-of-pack marks such as Nutri-Grade. The check tells you what is missing, what is wrong, and what you are not allowed to say.
Is a food label check compulsory in Singapore?
The check itself is not compulsory. Complying with the Food Regulations is compulsory. The Singapore Food Agency does not approve labels before you print them. It checks them after your product is on sale. If your label is wrong at that point, you may have to withdraw the product, reprint the packaging, or face enforcement action. A food label check before printing is how you avoid that.
What changed in Singapore food labelling on 30 January 2026?
The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025 came into operation on 30 January 2026. Country of origin and a lot or batch identification became mandatory on the label. The ingredient list must now carry a heading such as “Ingredients”. Processing aids are excluded from the ingredient list. Carry-over additives must be declared if they perform a technological function in the finished food. Flavourings may still be declared as “flavour” or “flavouring” — the qualifiers “natural”, “nature identical” and “artificial” are optional. Gluten-free is now defined as 20 mg/kg of gluten or less, and reduced gluten as more than 20 up to 100 mg/kg.
If your artwork was written before these rules and has not been reviewed since, parts of it may no longer comply.
Which allergens must be declared on a food label in Singapore?
Eight allergen groups must be declared: cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and their products); crustaceans and crustacean products; eggs and egg products; fish and fish products, including molluscs; peanuts, soybeans and their products; milk and milk products, including lactose; tree nuts and nut products; and sulphites at concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more. They must appear in the ingredient list in descending order of proportion by weight.
Do I need a Nutrition Information Panel on my product?
A Nutrition Information Panel is mandatory if your product carries a nutrition or health claim, is an edible fat or oil, is a Nutri-Grade beverage, or is a special purpose food. When it is required, it must show energy in kcal or kJ, protein in grams, fat in grams and carbohydrate in grams, plus any nutrient you have made a claim about.
Many companies add a panel voluntarily as well, because supermarket buyers and export markets ask for one.
How much does a food label check cost in Singapore?
Co-Laboratory offers three plans. Advisory, where we review your draft and explain what is wrong so you can fix it yourself, is $300 to $800 for a few SKUs. Editorial, where we make the corrections for you, is $400 to $1,500. Creating the label from scratch, for when you have no draft yet, is $500 to $2,000. A food claims eligibility check is included free with all three plans.
The final price depends on how many SKUs you have and how complex the product is. We always send a fixed quote before we start.
How long does a food label check take?
The advisory plan usually takes the longest. That is because the label moves back and forth between us and you, and every round of your edits needs to be checked again. The editorial plan and the create-from-scratch plan are faster, because we make the changes ourselves in one pass.
If you have a printing deadline, tell us the date when you enquire and we will tell you which plan fits it.
Can you tell me which food claims my product is eligible for?
Yes, and it is included free with every plan. Claims such as “low fat”, “sugar free”, “high in dietary fibre” and “source of protein” each have a legal threshold your product must meet, and each must be supported by a Nutrition Information Panel. We tell you which claims your product already qualifies for, which ones it is close to, and what laboratory testing would cost to prove the ones you want to add.
Do I need laboratory testing for a food label check?
Not always. If your label has no Nutrition Information Panel and no nutrition claims, the check is a documentation review and no testing is needed.
If you need a Nutrition Information Panel, a Nutri-Grade grade, a Healthier Choice Symbol application, or any nutrition claim, you need laboratory results to support the numbers. We can arrange that testing through our accredited partner labs and put the results straight onto your label.
Do imported products need a food label check?
Yes. A label that is legal in another country is often not legal in Singapore. Common problems are missing allergen declarations, claims that Singapore does not permit, nutrient thresholds that differ from the exporting country, a missing importer name and address, and a Nutrition Information Panel in a format Singapore does not accept.
We check imported labels and prepare compliant Singapore sticker or overlay text where needed.
I have already printed my labels. Can you still help?
Yes. Send us what you printed. We will tell you which parts are still acceptable and which are not. In many cases a correction sticker or an overlay is enough, and a full reprint is not needed. We will tell you honestly which situation you are in.
Do you also design the label artwork?
We produce the label content — the exact wording, the ingredient list, the allergen declaration, the Nutrition Information Panel and the claims, laid out so your designer can place it into the artwork. Your designer or printer handles the visual artwork. We then review the final proof before printing, so that what goes to the printer is what we checked.
Get Started
Get Your Food Label Checked Before You Print
Send us your draft label, your artwork, or just your recipe. We will tell you which plan fits, what it will cost, and how long it will take — usually on the same business day.
Fast response · Fuss free · Same business day