We would like to thank Forum writer Huang Kangrui for the valuable feedback shared in the article “Complete ingredients list needed on health and beauty products” (March 14).
In Singapore, the regulation of health products and food supplements falls under the jurisdiction of the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Both agencies implement risk-calibrated frameworks to ensure public safety.
While medicines, due to their potent ingredients or chemicals, are subject to stringent controls, health and beauty supplements—such as vitamin pills and food supplements like juices—are regulated less intensively. These products do not require pre-market approval; however, dealers must comply with specific labelling regulations to ensure transparency.
Health, beauty, and food supplements sold in Singapore are required to display essential information on their labels in English. For health and beauty products, this includes the listing of active ingredients, their quantities, and potential allergens, such as certain colourants and preservatives. Pre-packaged food products must also specify the ingredients, the country of origin, and the name and address of the local importer.
To ensure compliance, HSA and SFA conduct random checks on products available in the local market. However, given the wide variety of these products, some consumers may still encounter health, beauty, or food supplements that lack proper labelling. In such cases, consumers are urged to exercise caution when purchasing these items.
Furthermore, when shopping online—particularly on overseas platforms—consumers should be mindful of products that may be manufactured and packaged under different labelling regulations from those in Singapore.
To mitigate risks, consumers are encouraged to purchase health, beauty, and food supplements from trusted sources, such as pharmacies, reputable retailers, and established outlets with a presence in Singapore.
Additionally, consumers should be cautious of products that make medical claims regarding disease treatment or prevention, especially those that sound too good to be true. For further guidance, HSA offers a database of safe and quality health supplements at www.hsa.gov.sg/vns-list, where consumers can verify the legitimacy of products.
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