Businesses that Need Licence / Permit for Food Retail

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When does SFA require a licence/permit?

Generally, food businesses must be licensed to prepare and sell food to consumers.

SFA takes a risk-based approach to ensuring that food sold in retail settings are safe for consumption. Our licensing regime takes into account the type of food sold and the operational setting of the premises.

Retail businesses selling food items that have a higher food safety risk and/or settings that pose greater risks in view of the scale of its operations (e.g. catering businesses) are required to be licensed by SFA. Licensing allows SFA to impose food safety controls upstream.

A licence from SFA is not required if the food is not meant for sale (e.g. when charity kitchens give away food). Nonetheless, such kitchen operators should adhere to good food safety practices.

Do I need a licence/permit? Which licence/permit?

There are many ways to sell food in Singapore. The table below summarises some of the different types of food retail operations and the licence/permit required.

Note

Home-based food businesses, given their small-scale operations, and online food sellers, serving only as intermediaries and are not handling or preparing any food, do not require a licence from SFA to operate. However, they are still regulated by SFA and must comply with food safety requirements.

Type of Food Retail	Description	Licence/Permit Required
Food Shops	Food Shops include: restaurants, caterers, coffeeshops, canteens (including staff canteens operated by third party vendors), food courts and takeaway kiosks medicine halls that prepare and sell herbal tea standalone butcher shops selling raw meat privately-run markets with stall units within (‘private markets’) Mobile Food Wagons, i.e., vehicles with full-fledged food preparation kitchens pet cafes (Food Shops where pets are allowed) food vending machines that are equipped with in-machine food preparation functions; or are used for the sale of raw meat or seafood	Food Shop Licence
Supermarkets	Supermarkets are establishments where the selection of food and goods sold is organised on a self-serve basis. Supermarkets that: (i) sell raw meat or seafood; or (ii) conduct on-site preparation of food for sale (e.g. at a rotisserie counter) require a SFA licence to operate. Retailers that solely sell pre-packed food* supplied by SFA-licensed food processing establishments or importers do not require SFA food retail licences. *Except minimally processed meat or seafood (for example: packed whole chicken that has been defeathered and degutted, packed unmarinated chicken wings, packed whole fish, packed raw fillet etc.)	Supermarket Licence
Food Stalls	Food Stalls are individual stall units operating inside Food Shops that are multi-unit premises. Examples of multi-unit Food Shops are food courts, canteens, private markets, and coffeeshops. If you run a stall inside such Food Shops, you operate a Food Stall. However, if you operate a stall unit within a Food Shop but are responsible for your own refreshment area, the applicable licence type is Food Shop. Please select ‘Restaurant’ as the business trade description. The licensing officer will advise you further upon submission.	Food Stall Licence
Hawker Stalls	Hawker Stalls are stalls operating inside one of the publicly-managed hawker centres / markets in Singapore. These centres / markets are managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA). There is no need for Hawker Stall operators to submit separate licence applications to SFA, as NEA will assist stall operators to obtain their SFA licences as part of the tenancy administration. However, if you operate within centres / markets that have their tenancies managed by third-party managing agents appointed by NEA, you will need to submit a Food Stall Licence application to SFA. From 1 January 2025, operators of market stalls selling food items of lower regulatory concern, such as pre-packed food, will not require a SFA licence. The safety of food from these stalls will continue to be regulated through standards imposed by SFA on the importers and suppliers of these food items. For details, see Requirements for Licence / Permit for Food Retail – Food Stall.	Food Stall Licence
Temporary Fairs	Temporary fairs are events where there are individual stalls selling merchandise, food or drinks. To operate such a fair, you will need a permit from SFA when your event is one of the following: the event is in a public space (e.g. footpaths in a housing estate) the event is in a private venue (e.g. conventional hall atrium, mall atrium, etc.) and there is handling of food for sale Each individual stall preparing food and beverages for sale at a temporary fair will also require a licence from SFA. The licensing officer will work through the fair operator to process stall licence applications. Temporary fair stall operators do not need to separately apply for licences.	Temporary Fair Permit
Home-based Businesses	Home-based food businesses, such as home bakers, operate on a small scale so they do not require a SFA food retail licence. However, they must still comply with food laws and food safety requirements. For details, see Requirements for Home-Based Businesses.
Online Food Sellers	Online food businesses that merely serve as intermediaries do not need a SFA food retail licence to operate. However, they must still comply with food laws and food safety requirements. For details, see Types of Online Food Businesses.

Type of Licence	Licence Fee
Food Shop Licence	$195 a year
Food Stall Licence	$32 a year or $64 for 2 years Hawker stalls and canteen food stalls within primary schools, secondary schools, and junior colleges are charged a reduced fee of $13 a year
Supermarket Licence	$250 a year for supermarket with an area of less than 200m²$500 a year for supermarket with an area of more than 200m²
Temporary Fair Permit	$60 per permit
Temporary Fair Food Stall Licence	No additional licence fee imposed beyond the fee for the Temporary Fair Permit

Businesses that Need Licence / Permit for Food Retail

Singapore Food Agency

When does SFA require a licence/permit?

Do I need a licence/permit? Which licence/permit?

Note

When should I apply for the licence/permit?

What do I need to apply for the licence?

How much do the licences/permits cost?

How do I apply for licences/permits?

How long does it take to apply for the licences/permits?

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated 15 May 2026