Do I need a licence to sell home-made goods (food / drinks) online in Singapore?

Hi Charmaine,

If you're planning to set up your own home-based food business, you don't have to apply for a license. And you don't need HDB or URA's approval either!

You're basically setting up your business under the Home-Based Small Scale Business Scheme.

But there are some guidelines you have to take note though:

And they mainly involve not being a nuisance to your neighbours, as well as not employing additional workers or staff outside of your immediate family and industrial equipment or appliances that are not meant for domestic use.

But since you're thinking of setting up a food or drink related business, you'll need to adhere to some additional guidelines as set out by the Singapore Food Agency for food hygiene and the Fire Safety and Shelter Department for fire safety.

If your business takes off (fingers-crossed that it does!) then you'll probably have to move out to a proper retail or industrial space, and have to apply for the appropriate food business license.

Good luck with setting up your business and hope this helps!​​​

Yes.

The rules are not so clear now as there are many home cook bloggers that cook small amount of food for sales, but generally if you are selling a decent amount of food or drink, it is better you check with the Food Safety Agency and get properly certified and trained to reduce any issue with the law.