Singapore Member profile
Status of notification in the reporting periods
2010-2012
2012-2014
2014-2016
2016-2018
2018-2020
2020-2022
2022-2024
2024-2026
Notification information
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Singapore
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01/09/2024
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2024-2026
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Singapore
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11/04/2023
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2022-2024
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Singapore
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12/10/2020
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2020-2022
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Singapore
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21/11/2018
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2018-2020
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Singapore
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22/05/2017
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2016-2018
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Singapore
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15/04/2015
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2014-2016
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Singapore
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06/05/2013
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2012-2014
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Types of restrictions
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 HS chapters notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 WTO justifications notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 Non-WTO commitments notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
QR details
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Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/413/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.27.
The overall framework for the application of import controls has remained fundamentally unaltered since the previous Review. Import prohibitions and licensing requirements are applied mainly for health, safety, security, and environmental purposes, or to comply with international agreements.
3.28.
Prohibited imports include, inter alia, chewing gum, chewing tobacco, controlled drugs, certain chemicals, asbestos, and certain ozone-depleting substances. Since the previous Review, imitation tobacco products and mercury-added products have been added to the list of prohibited items. In line with UN Security Council Resolutions, prohibitions are also maintained on imports of arms and related materials from a few countries. Imports of used motor vehicles that are over three years old (except vintage and classic cars) are not allowed.
3.29.
A number of goods are subject to import licensing requirements, which can be either automatic or non-automatic depending on the product. Three categories of products are subject to automatic import licensing: (i) mastering and replication equipment for CDs, CD-ROMs, VCDs, DVDs, and DVD-ROMs; (ii) films, video tapes, and video games; and (iii) publications (books, magazines, other printed materials, and audio recordings).[83] Table 3.6 lists the products subject to import prohibition or non-automatic import licences, and identifies the relevant legislation and government agencies administering the restrictions.
3.30.
Singapore has regularly submitted to the WTO Committee on Import Licensing its replies to the Questionnaire on Import Licensing Procedures, which contains details on the eligibility criteria, documentation and other requirements, procedures, conditions, and timeframes for the issuance of import licences for each category of products subject to licensing.[84] The import licensing procedures are statutorily required and published in government gazettes, and while the administration of the licensing system is carried out by the relevant government agencies, the designation of the products to be subjected to licensing and the abolishment of the licensing system require legislative approval.
3.31.
Singapore maintains a motor vehicle quota system to control its vehicle population. Under the system, the Government fixes the annual number of new motor vehicles allowed on public roads. The licences are allocated by auction. Licensees are issued a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) granting them the right to own a vehicle for 10 years (8 years for taxis). The COE is a prerequisite for a vehicle to be used in Singapore.
3.32.
Rice, a key staple in Singapore, remains a controlled item for food security and price stability purposes, given that there is no local production of the crop. Import licences are required for all rice imports. In addition, import permits must be obtained for every import (and re-export) consignment of rice. There are different licences depending on the type of rice and purpose of the import. A "stockpile licence" is needed for imports of stockpile-grade rice (white rice, basmati rice, ponni rice, and parboiled rice) to be sold for local consumption, and importers of stockpile rice are required to participate in the Rice Stockpile Scheme (RSS). Under the RSS, importers have to pre-commit to importing a monthly quantity destined for the local market, and keep a prescribed stockpile quantity in a government-designated warehouse. There is no maximum quota for the importation of rice.
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.40.
Export controls are maintained on a number of products, mainly for security, safety, health, and environmental purposes, or to comply with UN Security Council Resolutions and international agreements. The main piece of legislation governing export controls remains the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act and its Regulations. Export controls can take the form of prohibitions, or licensing or permit requirements. Table 3.7 lists the products subject to export prohibitions or non‑automatic licensing and identifies the relevant legislation and the government agencies administering the controls.
3.41.
Under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act and its Regulations, Singapore controls trade in, or transfer of, strategic goods and strategic goods technology that can be used to produce weapons of mass destruction, and missiles capable of delivering such weapons. Exporters of strategic goods must obtain a permit granted by Singapore Customs prior to exportation. Goods controlled under the Act comprise conventional arms; nuclear, chemical, and biological materials; and other dual-use products. Moreover, goods intended or likely to be used for, or in connection with, weapons of mass destruction are also controlled under the Act. Singapore's list of controlled strategic goods includes items from four multilateral export control regimes, and it is regularly updated to keep it aligned with such regimes.[87]
3.42.
The Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2020, effective from 16 November 2020, contains the schedule of strategic goods and related technology currently subject to control.[88] The system is administered through the Strategic Trade Scheme (STS), a permit scheme that encourages companies' internal export control compliance and facilitates declaration procedures involving strategic goods and related technology.[89]
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.