Contents in this page
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:
![]() | |
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.) ![]() | |
Food Stalls | Food Stalls are individual stall units operating inside Food Shops that are multi-unit premises. | |
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).
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. | |
Temporary Fairs | Temporary fairs are events where there are individual stalls selling merchandise, food or drinks.
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. | |
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. | |

