Under the PDS, retail food business licences are liable for suspension or revocation, depending on the number of demerit points accumulated and the time period over which they were incurred.
Demerit points are dated to when the offence
was committed, and not the date of conviction in court or payment of composition sums.
Individual stalls and food establishments
The suspension periods for food stalls in coffee shops, canteens, food courts, hawker centres, as well as individual food shops (e.g. restaurants), based on the accumulated demerit points, are listed in the table below.
| Accumulated Demerit Points | Suspension Period |
| 12 points within 12 months | 1st suspension | 2 weeks |
| 12 points within 12 months after 1st suspension | 2nd suspension | 4 weeks |
| 12 points within 12 months after 2nd suspension | 3rd suspension | Licence revoked |
Operators of coffeeshops, food courts or canteens
PDS also applies to main operators of coffee shops, food courts and canteens to encourage operators to place greater emphasis on the overall food safety standards of the premises. The suspension periods of operators, based on the accumulated demerit points, are listed in the table below.
| Accumulated Demerit Points | Suspension Period |
| 12 points within 12 months | 1st suspension | 1 day |
| 12 points within 12 months after 1st suspension | 2nd suspension | 2 days |
| 12 points within 12 months after 2nd suspension | 3rd suspension | 3 days |
When a retail food business licence is suspended:
- Food handlers and Food Hygiene Officers are also required to re-attend and pass the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 and Level 3, respectively.
This is to ensure that food
handlers and FHOs are reminded of the necessary food safety knowledge and practices,
and are vigilant and aware of their responsibility to uphold food safety
standards.
- In the event that the main operator of a coffee shop, food court, or canteen is suspended under PDS, all individual stalls within the premises are also required to be closed during the suspension period.
