Market access procedures

International Conventions

Member of World Trade Organisation
Party to the Kyoto protocol
Party to the Washington convention on International trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
Party to the Basel convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal
Party to the Montreal protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer

Main International economic cooperation

Singapore does not belong to any Customs Union.It is a member of the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

 

It is a member of the ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), AFTA and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.

It is a member of the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting).

It is a member of the SEAT (Six East Asian Traders)

Singapore is a signatory to multilateral and bilateral agreements with many countries. Visit: IESinggapore.

Non tariff barriers

Import procedures in Singapore are very liberal. Most goods can enter the Singaporean territory without any restriction. Only a few products, such as chewing gum and weapons are banned. There is a license system required for about 6% of the total amount of imports and concerns fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, meat, animals, medicines, broadcasting products (automatic licenses) and also some sensitive products likely to represent a risk for health or the State (non automatic licenses). These licenses are generally issued by the International Enterprise Singapore. Some other institutions may be involved such as the Ministry of Health.

Customs duties and taxes on imports

0%

Singapore is duty free except for products like automobiles, gasoline, tobacco, and alcohol. For more details, visit: Tariff Schedule

Customs classification

Singapore applies the Harmonized Customs System.

Import procedures

Firms importing goods into Singapore require making an inward declaration, in addition to having an import permit.

For details, visit: Import Procedure

Importing samples

Goods entering the country temporarily for repair, stage performance etc. can do so without payment of duty or GST. Using an ATA carnet, foreign companies/exhibitors can import products into the country. For details, visit: Customs Singapore

For further information

Singapore Customs
Ministry of Trade and Industry

We can find you the entry requirements applying to your product (paying service).

Nous pouvons vous proposer de chercher pour vous les droits de douanes qui s'appliquent à votre produit (payant).

We can find you the local taxes that apply to your product for you.

Standards

National standards organizations

Singapore Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING SG)

Integration in the international standards network

SPRING represents Singapore in regional and international standards activities. Singapore is a member of :

International Standard organization (ISO)

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Sub-Committee on Standards & Conformance (SCSC)

ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards & Quality (ACCSQ)

Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Classification of standards

Visit: The Singapore Standardization Programme, operated by SPRING Singapore .

Online consultation of standards

Refer to ‘e-services' provided by SPRING Singapore .

Certification organizations

Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC)

We can obtain for you the standard applying to your product (paying service).

We can obtain for you the labelling requirements applying to your product (paying service).

Intellectual Property

National organizations

The organisation responsible for the protection of intellectual property in Singapore is the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).

Regional organizations

APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group

Association of South East Asian Nations -ASEAN

International membership

Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property
Membership to the TRIPS agreement - Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)