Every country has their own set of import restrictions and controlled goods – Singapore is no exception. There are certain import restrictions in Singapore which includes:
- Edible items
- Animals
- Both prescribed and non-prescribed drugs.
One of the common mistakes made by those who are coming into Singapore or businesses registration in Singapore is that they fail to check whether the goods and commodities they are bringing are restricted in Singapore.
What is the List of Restricted Items & Controlled Goods in Singapore?
Some of the list of restricted items that are most commonly brought into Singapore include:
Governing Bodies to Apply for Import Licenses in Singapore
There are different controlling agencies, depending on the nature of the product that you would be importing. These agencies will make the decision whether to authorise these controlled goods.
How to Retrieve my Restricted Goods in Singapore?
After knowing the controlling agencies, the next step is to apply for the licenses and/or permits. Once approved, these are the steps for acquiring your restricted items.
FAQs
No license is required for the importing of toy guns, but a Licensing Officer from the A&E Division of the Singapore Police Force must still inspect and approve the toy guns. The toy guns must not look like real guns – if they do, they will not be approved by said Licensing Officer. All unapproved toy guns will either be disposed of, or re-exported – the choice is up to the importer.
Yes. CITES, which stands for The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international between various countries. Its purpose is to ensure that any international trade in specimens of wild animals and plans does not threaten the survival of those species. An importer looking to import CITES-listed plants or animals, for either personal or commercial purposes, must apply for a CITES import permit. The permit can be obtained from AVA, one week prior to import. When applying for the Singapore CITES import permit, you must also attach a CITES export/re-export permit from the exporting country.
Countries have import restrictions to protect the safety and health of all citizens and foreigners living there. When a government senses danger which may be caused by the importation of an item, it may choose to ban or restrict the importation of such an item. If the imported items may threaten the economic condition of a country, a government may place restrictions which may be made through the trade authorities of both countries involved.
Some imported goods are duty-free, while certain others are subject to import control upon their arrival in Singapore. Chewing gum which is neither medicated nor approved by the Health Science Authority of Singapore (HSA) is prohibited. Singapore also restricts the entry of tobacco or any tobacco products into the country. Although all food items are allowed to brought into Singapore, food for human consumption from certain countries of origin can be restricted.
These, among other controlled goods, should be declared by an importer at the immigration checkpoint upon arrival in Singapore.