SINGAPORE: Food outlets that have a good track record of food safety will be eligible for longer licences under a new grading framework that is expected to start from Jan 1, 2023.
This applies to both retail and non-retail food establishments, including bakeries, hawker centre stalls and caterers.
About 23,000 establishments will come under the new framework, called Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (SAFE), said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Monday (Oct 25).
The new framework was first announced during the Committee of Supply debate in March 2020.
Food establishments will be awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold, which correspond with a three, five, or 10-year licence duration.
They will be assessed based on their track records, such as having no major food safety lapses over a period of time, as well as being able to put in place systems to strengthen food safety assurance.
The new framework will replace the existing letter-based grading system, which gives grades between A and D based on an "annual snapshot assessment" of their food safety performance, said SFA.
The agency's deputy chief executive officer Tan Lee Kim said the new framework takes into account the "ongoing performance" of food establishments.
"This is a better representation of the food establishment’s consistent efforts in food safety assurance and can enable consumers to make better-informed choices,” said Dr Tan, who is also SFA's director-general of food administration.
Food establishments will be divided into three categories, under which the conditions for licensing are set out.
The first category, for instance, is for establishments with "significant food handling practices with higher food safety risks", such as caterers and restaurants. To qualify for a Bronze award - the equivalent of a three-year licence - they should go two years without a "major lapse" and meet the Food Hygiene Officer requirements.
Major lapses include causing a foodborne outbreak or being convicted in court for offences against SFA’s regulations.
The second category covers establishments such as bakeries and cold stores, which are considered to be involved in "moderate food handling and food storage practices with lower food safety risks".
The third category includes businesses such as supermarkets and the main operators of food courts. They are considered to have minimal food handling and food storage practices, according to SFA's classification.
Such establishments will not receive awards but will qualify for licences based on the number of years they go without a major lapse.
"Individual food establishments will be notified next year of their award tiers based on their track record of food safety assurance," SFA said, adding they will be given sufficient time to implement the necessary requirements to obtain their desired award tier.
To support the framework, SFA has also implemented a four-level training framework, which covers areas such as basic food safety principles as well as conducting broader food safety checks and internal audits.
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This applies to both retail and non-retail food establishments, including bakeries, hawker centre stalls and caterers.
About 23,000 establishments will come under the new framework, called Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (SAFE), said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Monday (Oct 25).
The new framework was first announced during the Committee of Supply debate in March 2020.
Food establishments will be awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold, which correspond with a three, five, or 10-year licence duration.
They will be assessed based on their track records, such as having no major food safety lapses over a period of time, as well as being able to put in place systems to strengthen food safety assurance.
The new framework will replace the existing letter-based grading system, which gives grades between A and D based on an "annual snapshot assessment" of their food safety performance, said SFA.
The agency's deputy chief executive officer Tan Lee Kim said the new framework takes into account the "ongoing performance" of food establishments.
"This is a better representation of the food establishment’s consistent efforts in food safety assurance and can enable consumers to make better-informed choices,” said Dr Tan, who is also SFA's director-general of food administration.
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Food establishments will be divided into three categories, under which the conditions for licensing are set out.
The first category, for instance, is for establishments with "significant food handling practices with higher food safety risks", such as caterers and restaurants. To qualify for a Bronze award - the equivalent of a three-year licence - they should go two years without a "major lapse" and meet the Food Hygiene Officer requirements.
Major lapses include causing a foodborne outbreak or being convicted in court for offences against SFA’s regulations.
The second category covers establishments such as bakeries and cold stores, which are considered to be involved in "moderate food handling and food storage practices with lower food safety risks".
The third category includes businesses such as supermarkets and the main operators of food courts. They are considered to have minimal food handling and food storage practices, according to SFA's classification.
Such establishments will not receive awards but will qualify for licences based on the number of years they go without a major lapse.
"Individual food establishments will be notified next year of their award tiers based on their track record of food safety assurance," SFA said, adding they will be given sufficient time to implement the necessary requirements to obtain their desired award tier.
To support the framework, SFA has also implemented a four-level training framework, which covers areas such as basic food safety principles as well as conducting broader food safety checks and internal audits.
Continue reading...