Singapore

Harmonised System (HS) / Competent Authorities (CA) Product Search Engine
A government platform for checking if the importation of exportation of goods, technology and services require relevant licenses from competent authorities concerned. Generally, anything that the government determines to pose a threat to health, security, safety and social decency is controlled.
United Nations Security Council/Regulation 6(1)(b) of Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations
Sanctions that prohibits activities relating to certain countries, goods and services or entities

Importers are required to make declaration to Singapore customs to import goods into the country, which then comes with Goods and Services Tax (GST). Both GST and duties are payable for dutiable goods if they are imported for local consumption. Duty and/or GST are suspended based on different criteria, such as when goods remain inside a Free Trade Zone (FTZ), or when you are granted exemption/relief. Exemptions come from temporary import schemes. There are three: Major Exporter Scheme (MES), Approved Import GST Suspension Scheme (AISS), and Import GST Deferment Scheme (IGDS). Importers have to register for a unique entity number and activate a customs account, which is tend tied to tracking permit applications, locating e-permits, and other trade documentation.

Exports are regulated by several laws: the Customs Act, the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act, and the Strategic Goods (Control) Act, as well as relevant Competent Authorities' rules (CAs). No GST and duty are charged on exports from Singapore, but exporters need to declare all exports and obtain the correct permits. These businesses must have the relevant registrations, export permits, accounts, and a unique entity number.

Certain goods are subject to control by one or more Competent Authorities (CAs), and compliance comes from permit applications through the TradeNet single window. Three steps summarise the application process: using the right Harmonised System (HS) code to identify if the product(s) is/are controlled, and if so, who the CA(s) is/are regulating it/them. An example of a controlled product includes cake, controlled by the Singapore Food Agency (Processed Food) for import. Second, check if the item is controlled by more than one CA using the HS/CA Product Code and All Product Code Pair. There is a Code Checker publicly accessible in the official website. Lastly, review and upload all necessary documents in the TradeNet permit application. Missing or incomplete information in the TradeNet permit application may delay or result in rejection of permit application.

Competent Authorities' Specific Requirements span building and construction, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), food authorities, health and sciences authorities, media authorities, environment and civil defence authorities, and the police force (this in particular related to weaponry, public entertainment and liquor licensing).

Sale of Food Act 1973
An Act for regulating food safety. Latest amendments in 2025 include provisions on gluten-free rules, ingredient listings, labels for prepacked food, general requirements on date marking, country of origin, and nutrition information, as well as penalties for offences involving false or misleading labels.

Nutri-Grade System introduced in December 2022
An A to D mandatory grading system for pre-packaged, non-alcoholic beverages to indicate to consumers the nutrition level.

Health Science Authority's Guidance Documents
For therapeutic/medicinal products, there are non-statutory, administrative labelling requirements and legal requirements subject to the authority's surveillance program. The latter include the name of the active ingredient, quantitative details, product license number and name and address of the dealer.

SAEFTY Mark and ACCURACY Label
For labelling electrical and electronic products, gas applicances for use in Singapore households. The SAFETY Mark is either on the product or the packaging, and comes with traceabe registrations. The ACCURACY Label is aimed at general consumer goods in households, such as toys, apparel and funiture. There are 33 categories of controlled goods in Singapore, surveilled by Enterprise Sinagpore and the Weights and Measures Authority.

Line Terminal Equipment Standards, Radio-communication Equipment Standards
The IMDA requires importers to ensure all such equipment to apply/register for the appropriate dealer's license before sale or hiring out.

CONQUAS®: Construction Quality Assessment System
National standard for assessing the construction workmanship quality of new building projects, it is a registered trademark in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, India and Thailand. Companies can submit their projects for CONQUAS® assessment. This heavily influences the import of construction services and developer track records to the country.

The Singapore SS 444:2018 Standard was approved by the Food Standards Committee on behalf of the Singapore Standards Council on 6 March 2018.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP)
Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA)
OECD Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) Framework
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Telecommunications MRA
Energy Star Programme
Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA)
European Union - Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (EUSDTA)
European Union-Singapore Digital Partnership (EUSDP)
Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement (KSDPA)
Singapore-Australia Digital Economy Agreement (SADEA)
UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA)
WTO E-Commerce Agreement (ECA)

Enterprise SG's Enterprise Financing Scheme - Trade Loan
Covers enterprises' domestic and overseas transactions, finances needs including: inventory / stock financing, structured pre-delivery working capital (revolving working capital), factoring (with recourse) / bill of invoice / AR discounting, overseas working capital loan, and Bank Guarantees (capped at 2 years' tenure).

Trade Finance Registry by ABS
An industry utility to query new trade financing transactions by participating banks in Singapore. The key objectives of the TFR are to improve transparency of trade financing transactions and bridge the information asymmetry among participating banks to (1) detect multiple financing and (2) validate genuineness of the underlying trade.

List of links include key banks who provide Trade Finance

Visit Singapore's Assistance Schemes
Various grant and funding programmes to help support events in Singapore (trade fairs, business events, tourism players, etc.)

The EDB is the source of information for doing business in Singapore, making connections to business partners, gaining insight about the region, and receiving selected assistance in capacity building. It is the country's inbound investment promotion agency.

Enterprise Singapore is the enterprise-support body for businesses interested in entering or expanding out of Singapore. They provide expert advice for SMEs, business matching and financial support for enterprise development.

MTI tracks Singapore's economic performance, trade relations, and work with other statutory bodies (such as EDB and Enterprise Singapore) to shape the economy towards higher productivity and future-readiness.