Overview

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) develops and promotes a robust and internationally recognized Quality & Standards ecosystem in Singapore. This ecosystem enables enterprises to become more efficient, productive and globally competitive. As a key pillar of Singapore’s future economy, it helps to transform industries, support emerging areas, enable internationalization and promote good jobs and skills.

EnterpriseSG participates in several international and regional fora such as the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Sub-Committee on Standards & Conformance (APEC SCSC), ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards & Quality (ACCSQ), and Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). Our role on these global platforms helps strengthen the Singapore brand and reduce technical barriers for market access.

To facilitate trade with Singapore’s trading partners, EnterpriseSG has signed bilateral and multilateral Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with several agencies and governments around the world.

Standards

Singapore is a member body of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and a member body of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) through the IEC National Committee of Singapore. To strengthen its linkages with industry, EnterpriseSG works closely with the Singapore Standards Council, which comprises standards partners or experts from the private and public sectors. 

The Singapore Standards Council oversees Singapore’s participation in the development or monitoring of ISO and IEC international standards that are important to Singapore. It has set up 12 Standards Committees (SCs) to lead the development and promotion of standards in various industries or technical fields such as biomedical & health, building & construction, chemical, electrical & electronics, environment & resources, food, information technology, manufacturing, quality & safety, services, trade & connectivity, and transportation. Under these SCs, various Technical Committees and Working Groups are established to undertake the development, promotion and review of standards. 

The Singapore Standards Council also promotes the use of international standards. SSs are developed when there are no suitable international standards. Where relevant, standards developed by regional organizations such as the European Committee for Standardization, national standards bodies such as the British Standards Institution, and other standards development organizations, such as ASTM International, are also adopted as SSs.

Testing, Inspection, and Certification

Accreditation and Conformity Assessment

The Singapore Accreditation Council works to build trust in Singapore’s products and services by strengthening Singapore’s technical infrastructure for conformity assessments (testing, calibration, inspection and certification). On the international front, SAC forges multilateral recognition arrangements (MLAs) and mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) with its economic partners. 

These include:

•              Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) MRA for testing, calibration, medical (ISO 15189), inspection and proficiency testing providers, as well as management systems certification (quality, environmental, food safety, energy, information security, medical devices, occupational health and safety, business continuity, anti-bribery), personnel certification and product certification.

•              International Accreditation Forum (IAF) MLA for management systems certification (quality, environmental, food safety, energy, information security, medical devices, occupational health and safety), personnel certification and product certification.

•              International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) MRA for testing, calibration, medical (ISO 15189), inspection and proficiency testing providers.

Accredited test reports or certificates from foreign Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) are recognized locally if they bear the ILAC and IAF MRA marks as well as the accreditation body mark of the originating country. In addition, the Singapore Accreditation Council was appointed as the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Compliance Monitoring Authority in Singapore. In January 2010, Singapore became a Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) adherent member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This means that GLP studies conducted in Singapore for the health and safety assessment of chemicals will be accepted in more than 40 OECD and non-OECD member countries. SAC was also formally recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the ENERGY STAR Programme in October 2010.

Singapore has signed an MRA on telecom equipment certification with the United States.  The MRA provides for direct entry of telecommunications into either market without the need for additional testing and certification. Under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Telecommunications MRA implemented between the United States and Singapore, products can be tested and certified in the United States for conformance with Singapore’s technical requirements. View a list of the recognized U.S. testing and certification agencies.

EnterpriseSG also focuses on developing the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) infrastructure in Singapore to support and enable end-user industries. Efforts include engaging stakeholders and service providers from the public and private sectors to build capabilities, innovate and internationalize. EnterpriseSG participates in the Singapore Manufacturing Federation’s Testing, Inspection and Certification Interest Group (TIC IG) to spearhead industry development for the TIC sector in Singapore.

Publication of Technical Regulations

EnterpriseSG publishes Singapore Standards (SSs) and Technical References (TRs) by announcement in the Government Gazette (http://www.egazette.com.sg/Welcome.asp).Technical regulations are developed by the relevant government bodies regulating a specific sector or area. For example: for certain categories of household electrical and gas appliances, it will be under the Consumer Product Safety Office of EnterpriseSG; for medical devices, the Health Sciences Authority; for building and construction, the Building and Construction Authority; and for telecommunications, the Info-communications Media Development Authority. Companies from the United States are advised to approach these agencies to participate in the consultation process in the development of technical regulations. A list of these agencies can be found on https://www.sgdi.gov.sg/ministries.

About EnterpriseSG

EnterpriseSG is the Singapore government agency championing enterprise development.  It also supports the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups.  The agency attracts global commodities traders to establish their global or Asian home base in Singapore. Today, Singapore is a leading global trading hub with a complete ecosystem for the energy, agri-commodities and metals & minerals trading clusters.  Singapore is also home to many global enterprises, startups and investors that operate in its robust pro-enterprise environment.

EnterpriseSG builds trust in Singapore’s products and services through quality and standards.  Renowned for their dedication to quality and innovation, Singapore companies make ideal business partners. With EnterpriseSG’s global network in over 35 locations spanning many developed and emerging markets, it connects businesses with relevant Singapore companies for their business expansion.

About Singapore Accreditation Council

Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC), managed under the aegis of EnterpriseSG, was formed in 1996 as the national authority for the independent accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) in Singapore.

SAC’s main role is to accredit testing and calibration laboratories, inspection and certification bodies (TIC). SAC also manages the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Compliance Programme, which recognizes facilities which provide non-clinical safety testing in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Good Laboratory Practice.

SAC operates in accordance with relevant international standards and requirements, maintaining integrity and impartiality while taking into account national and public interest.  As the designated Singapore representative for accreditation and related conformity assessment activities, SAC works closely with government agencies on Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with regional and international bodies to facilitate trade for Singapore.

About Singapore Standards Council

The Singapore Standards Council (SSC) facilitates the development, promotion and review of Standards and Technical References in Singapore. This work is done through partnerships with the industry, academia and government organizations, under the national standardization program overseen by EnterpriseSG.

Contact Information

Enterprise Singapore

230 Victoria Street #09-00, Bugis Junction Office Tower

Singapore 188024

Tel: (65) 6898 1800

 

Mr. CHEONG Tak Leong, Director, Standards Division

Email: standards@enterprisesg.gov.sg   

 

Mr. TAN Yee Teck, Director, Accreditation & Assurance Division

 

Ms. Beatrice WONG, Director, Accreditation & Assurance Division (TIC Development)

Email: sac@enterprisesg.gov.sg    

 

Ms. Beatrice WONG, Director, Consumer Product Safety, Weights & Measures Office

Email: consumerproductsafety@enterprisesg.gov.sg  

Ms. LOH Soi Min, Director, Policy & Promotion Division

Email: ppd@enterprisesg.gov.sg  

 

U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy – Singapore

Mr. CHAN Y K, Commercial Specialist

Email: yiukei.chan@trade.gov   

 

Use ePing to review proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures 

The ePing SPS&TBT platform (https://epingalert.org/), or “ePing”, provides access to notifications made by WTO Members under the Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), distributed by the WTO from January 16, 1995 to present.  ePing is available to all stakeholders free of charge and does not require registration unless the user wishes to receive customized e-mail alerts.  Use it to browse notifications on past as well as new draft and updated product regulations, food safety and animal and plant health standards and regulations, find information on trade concerns discussed in the WTO SPS and TBT Committees, locate information on SPS/TBT Enquiry Points and notification authorities, and to follow and review current and past notifications concerning regulatory actions on products, packaging, labeling, food safety and animal and plant health measures in markets of interest. 

Notify U.S., operated and maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) since 2003 to distribute and provide access to notifications (and associated draft texts) made under the WTO TBT Agreement for US stakeholders, has reached its end of life.  Per obligation under the TBT Agreement, each WTO Member operates a national TBT (and an SPS) Enquiry Point.   National TBT Enquiry Points are authorized to accept comments and official communications from other national TBT Enquiry Points, which are NOT part of the WTO or the WTO Secretariat.  All comment submissions from U.S. stakeholders, including businesses, trade associations, U.S domiciled standards development organizations and conformity assessment bodies, consumers, or U.S. government agencies on notifications to the WTO TBT Committee should be sent directly to the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point.  Refer to the comment guidance at https://tsapps.nist.gov/notifyus/data/guidance/guidance.cfm for further information.