5.0 Labeling Requirements

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Infant, Follow-up, and Young Child Formula
Singapore

This section provides information on labeling requirements and the label approval process.

5.1 Mandatory Labeling Parameters

Infant Formula and Follow-up Formula [1][2]

Product legal name: Infant formula, Follow-on formula.
Indication of the sources of protein printed immediately after the common name “infant formula” or any appropriate designation (not applicable to infant milk formula or infant milk preparation prepared from cow’s milk. It may have part or whole of its butterfat replaced by vegetable oils).
Ingredients list: A specific name or description or a generic name or description of every ingredient contained in the infant formula. The appropriate designation of each ingredient in case of food consisting of two or more ingredients and unless the quantity or proportion of each ingredient is specified, the ingredients shall be specified in descending order of the proportions by weight in which they are present. Where a food contains an ingredient, that is made from two or more constituents, the appropriate designations of those constituents shall be so specified and it shall not be necessary to specify the appropriate designation of that ingredient. It is not necessary to state that the food contains water.
Foods and ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity:
1. cereals containing gluten, i.e. wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, or their hybridized strains and their products;
2. crustacea and crustacean products;
3. eggs and egg products;
4. fish and fish products;
5. peanuts, soybeans, and their products;
6. milk and milk products (including lactose);
7. tree nuts and nut products; and
8. sulfites in concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more.
Date marking of validity of prepacked food: The date mark shall be shown clearly and the size of the letters shall not be less than 3 mm in height. The expiry dates of prepacked food products may be declared in one of the following ways:
1. “USE BY (here insert the day, month, and year)”;
2. “SELL BY (here insert the day, month, and year)”;
3. “EXPIRY DATE (here insert the day, month, and year)”; or
4. “BEST BEFORE (here insert the day, month, and year)”.
Net quantity
Directions as to the method of preparing the food
A warning statement about the health hazards of improper use, preparation, or storage of infant formula
The amount of energy and the number of grams of protein, fat, and carbohydrate per 100 ml or other equivalents of formula prepared in accordance with the directions on the label
The total quantity of each vitamin and mineral per 100 ml or other equivalents of formula prepared in accordance with the directions on the label
A statement suggesting the amount of the prepared food to be given each time, and the number of times such amount is to be given per day; such statement shall be given for each month of the infants’ age up to 6 months
Directions for storage and information regarding its keeping qualities before and after the container has been opened
Information that infants above the age of 6 months should start to receive supplemental foods in addition to the formula, where the infant formula is intended for infants above the age of 6 months
Manufacturer or Importer name and address and Country of Origin: The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or local vendor in the case of a food of local origin; and the name and address of the local importer, distributor, or agent and the name of the country of origin of the food in the case of an imported food. A telegraphic or code address or an address at a post office shall not be sufficient.
Prominently displayed statements, starting with the words “IMPORTANT NOTICE” or words of similar import, to ensure that a consumer understands that breast milk is best for infants such as “Breast milk is the best food for your baby”; and the infant formula should be used on the advice of a doctor or healthcare practitioner such as “Before you decide to use this product, consult your doctor or healthcare professional for advice."

Young Child Formula [3]

Product name: The common name, or a description sufficient to indicate the true nature of the food. Eg. Growing-up Milk, Growing-up Formula.
Ingredients list: A specific name or description or a generic name or description of every ingredient contained in the infant formula. The appropriate designation of each ingredient in the case of food consisting of two or more ingredients and unless the quantity or proportion of each ingredient is specified, the ingredients shall be specified in descending order of the proportions by weight in which they are present. Where a food contains an ingredient that is made from two or more constituents, the appropriate designations of those constituents shall be so specified and it shall not be necessary to specify the appropriate designation of that ingredient. It is not necessary to state that the food contains water. In the case of food that contains the synthetic coloring tartrazine, declare (i) tartrazine or (ii) color (102) or (iii) color (FD&C Yellow #5) or other equivalent terms in the ingredients list.
The following words or any other words to the same effect in the case of any food containing aspartame: “PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.”
Foods and ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity:
1. cereals containing gluten, i.e. wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, or their hybridized strains and their products;
2. crustacea and crustacean products;
3. eggs and egg products;
4. fish and fish products;
5. peanuts, soybeans, and their products;
6. milk and milk products (including lactose);
7. tree nuts and nut products; and
8. sulfites in concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more.
Date marking of validity of prepacked food: The date mark shall be shown clearly and the size of the letters shall not be less than 3 mm in height. The expiry dates of prepacked food products may be declared in one of the following ways:
1. “USE BY (here insert the day, month, and year)”;
2. “SELL BY (here insert the day, month, and year)”;
3. “EXPIRY DATE (here insert the day, month, and year)”; or
4. “BEST BEFORE (here insert the day, month and year)”.
Storage direction of the food where the validity of the date mark of any prepacked food is dependent on its storage
Net quantity
In the case of nutrition claim(s) made, a nutrition information panel in the form specified in the Twelfth Schedule or in such other similar form as may be acceptable to the Director-General, specifying the energy value, the amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat and the amount of any other nutrients for which a nutrition claim is made in respect of the food. Format of nutrition information panel in Twelfth Schedule.
Manufacturer or Importer name and address and Country of Origin: The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or local vendor in the case of a food of local origin; and the name and address of the local importer, distributor, or agent and the name of the country of origin of the food in the case of an imported food. A telegraphic or code address or an address at a post office shall not be sufficient.

5.2 Languages

English [4].

5.3 Mandatory Information on Stickers

The use of sticker labels to incorporate the mandatory labeling information in English on the labels of your food product is acceptable as long as the sticker label used is firmly attached to the product at all times, and does not cover other essential information required under the Food Regulations.

The information made available on the sticker labels should not contradict those declared on the original label. Please note that tampering of date marking (i.e. expiry date) declared on the original label, is prohibited under the Food Regulations [5].

5.4 Product Legal Name

Infant Formula

Infant formula [6].

Follow-up Formula

The common name, or a description (in the case where a suitable common name is not available) sufficient to indicate the true nature of the food (e.g. Follow-on Formula). Given that there is no specific legislation for this category, in the market the common practice is to indicate Stage 2 with the target age (6 months onwards) and indicate a "Follow-on Formula" [7].

Young Child Formula

The common name, or a description (in the case where a suitable common name is not available) sufficient to indicate the true nature of the food. E.g. Growing-up Milk [7].

5.5 Product-specific Labeling Statements

Infant Formula and Follow-up Formula [6]

Prominently displayed statements shall be printed on the label of infant formula starting with the words “IMPORTANT NOTICE” or words of similar import, to ensure that a consumer understands that breast milk is best for infants; and the infant formula should be used on the advice of a doctor or healthcare practitioner.

The label on a package of any formula that is sold or to be sold as lactose-free or low-lactose must include:

the words “lactose-free” or “low lactose” or words of similar import;
a statement within the nutrition information panel on the label, specifying the exact amount of lactose in the infant formula; and
the words “Not suitable for infants with galactosemia” in the same font and size as, and in close proximity to, the words “lactose-free” or “low lactose”, or words of similar import, if the infant formula is manufactured from protein sources other than soya protein isolates.

5.6 Authority Approval

Infant, Follow-up, and Young Child Formula

No authority approval is required [5].

5.7 Additional Notes on Labeling

Infant, Follow-up and Young Child Formula [1][3]

Labeling information appears conspicuously and in a prominent position on the label and shall be clearly legible.

The common name of the product (e.g., infant formula), the statement of ingredients, and the net quantity must be printed with letters not less than 1.5mm in height.