Food exports to Singapore undergo new labeling requirement

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino food firms shipping products to Singapore are urged to check whether goods for export are considered as healthier options given a new labeling requirement being implemented in that country.

In a statement, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said local food exporters whose products are branded as healthier options should ensure that their shipments to be sold in Singapore have the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) displayed on the pack in such a way that it is easily visible to consumers.

This as Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) recently made it compulsory for products considered as healthier options to have HCS placed on the front of pack labels so that consumers and shoppers can see nutritional facts.

“Filipino food exporters to Singapore whose products are branded as healthier options need to comply with its new food labeling or symbol which provides consumers and shoppers with nutritional facts at a glance,” Philexport said.

The HCS program aims to promote consumer awareness on making healthier food choices during grocery shopping.

The HCS indicates that the packaged goods are healthier options which help consumers make informed choices when they make a purchase.

Products carrying the HCS tag are generally lower in total fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar. Some are also higher in dietary fiber and calcium compared to other products within the same food category.

By using the HCS, food exporters must also ensure that the symbol is accompanied with the Singapore-recommended nutrition information panel.

The nutrition information panel lists the energy value and contents of eight nutrients such as protein, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, dietary fiber and sodium per serving and per 100 grams of food.

In 2007, HPB introduced the Healthier Snack Symbol (HSS) logo which is awarded to snacks considered to be healthier than other offerings in the same category.