In this guide · 7 sections
- 01Which SFA licence do you need to sell frozen food online?
- 02Importing meat and seafood: accredited sources
- 03Cold chain delivery: the temperatures to hold
- 04Product pages, halal claims and delivery windows
- 05Refund terms for thawed or damaged goods
- 06Do it yourself or get help?
- 07Frequently asked questions
Short answer
Importing meat or fish needs an SFA import licence and accredited sources; storing it in your own cold room may need a coldstore licence (S$260 a year). Pure reselling from a local distributor needs no SFA licence. Deliver frozen food at -18°C or below.
Which SFA licence do you need to sell frozen food online?
SFA's requirements for online food sellers set out the logic: the licence follows the activity, not the website. Selling online alone doesn't need a licence, but importing, storing, processing or running a shop does.
| Your business model | SFA licence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resell from a local distributor, no handling, no physical shop | None, per SFA | Stock must still come from SFA-regulated sources |
| Import meat or fish yourself | Import licence for meat and fish products | Overseas sources must be SFA-accredited |
| Store meat or seafood in your own cold room | Licence to Operate a Coldstore | S$147.20 application, S$260 a year |
| Cut, marinate, portion or repack meat or fish | Food processing establishment licence | S$147.20 application, S$260 a year for meat and fish |
| Physical shop that handles food | Food shop licence | Separate retail licence |
SFA gives its own example: an online business that imports meat to sell online must have a meat import licence. Fees are from SFA's manufacturing and storage licence page. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm your exact set-up with SFA.
Importing meat and seafood: accredited sources
SFA's overseas accreditation page says all overseas sources of meat and meat products (unless under 5% meat) must be accredited by SFA before import. It also lists fish and fish products, including higher-risk seafood such as live oysters and pufferfish.
- Register with ACRA, activate your UEN with Singapore Customs and submit a GIRO form to SFA, per SFA's general import requirements.
- Apply for the import licence for meat and fish products through GoBusiness Licensing.
- Check each supplier's plant against SFA's accreditation database before ordering.
- Get an import permit for each consignment.
If you are building a wholesale or B2B site as well, our food importer website guide covers trade accounts, price lists and SFA details on the site.
Cold chain delivery: the temperatures to hold
SFA's frozen and chilled transport poster sets the targets your delivery set-up must meet.
| Food | Air temperature in transport | Core temperature limit |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen | -18°C or below | Not above -12°C |
| Chilled | 4°C or below | Not above 7°C |
Refrigerated courier
Safest- Freezer van or freezer compartments
- Ask for temperature logs
- Usually fixed delivery slots
Best for: Most frozen meat and seafood orders.
Own freezer van
Most control- You control timing and route
- Vehicle and driver costs
- Log temperatures yourself
Best for: High order volume in a few areas.
Normal courier with insulated box
Risky- Dry ice or gel packs needed
- Delays break the cold chain
- Hard to prove temperature
Best for: Rarely suitable for frozen meat in Singapore heat.
Our e-commerce shipping costs guide compares courier rates; for frozen goods, ask specifically about cold chain services.
Product pages, halal claims and delivery windows
Online shoppers can't see or touch frozen products, so the product page has to do the work, and every claim must be true.
Frozen product page checklist
Halal claims are a common mistake for resellers. Our halal certification display guide explains what you can show and how. If a supplier's halal certificate lapses, update the product page the same day.
Refund terms for thawed or damaged goods
Write a clear policy before launch, so customers and staff both know what happens when a parcel arrives soft.
Ask for a report within a set time
For example, within 2 hours of delivery, with photos of the product and packaging.
Define what counts as a delivery failure
Product noticeably thawed or above the stated temperature on arrival, packaging damaged, or wrong item.
Offer a replacement or refund
State which you offer and how fast. A blanket "no refunds" clause may mislead customers about rights they have under consumer law.
Exclude what's genuinely outside your control
Failed delivery because no one was home in the chosen window, or products left out after delivery.
Record each case
Log the courier, slot and issue. Repeated problems on one route point to a cold chain issue to fix.
Do it yourself or get help?
Licensing and cold chain contracts are yours to arrange directly with SFA and couriers. The store itself, with delivery date and slot selection, product page templates for frozen goods, halal display and PayNow, is where a set-up service saves time.
Our Shopify Store package (S$1,890) builds the store on your own account with delivery slots, product templates and policies. Online Payment Setup (S$290) adds PayNow and cards with refunds tested.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on what you do. SFA says reselling food from a local distributor online, without handling it and without a physical shop, doesn't need an SFA licence. Importing meat or fish needs an import licence, storing meat or seafood in your own cold room may need a coldstore licence, and cutting or repacking needs a processing licence.
SFA's guidance says frozen food should be kept at -18°C or below during transport, with a core temperature not exceeding -12°C. Chilled food should be kept at 4°C or below, with a core temperature not above 7°C. Use a refrigerated courier or your own freezer vehicle for frozen meat and seafood.
No. SFA requires all overseas sources of meat and meat products, unless they contain less than 5% meat, to be accredited before import. Check each plant in SFA's accreditation database before ordering, hold the import licence, and apply for a permit for each consignment.
Only if the products are certified halal by MUIS or a body MUIS recognises, and you hold the current certificate. Don't describe products as halal based on a supplier's verbal assurance, and update your product pages promptly if a certificate expires or a supplier changes.
Set a short reporting window with photos, define what counts as a failed delivery, and say whether you replace or refund. Exclude cases outside your control, such as no one home in the chosen slot. Avoid blanket no-refund wording, which may mislead customers about their consumer rights.