On this page
General
Transhipment is the act of bringing any goods into Singapore solely for the purpose of taking them out of Singapore, whether on the same conveyance on which they were brought into Singapore or on another conveyance, where the goods have landed and are kept at any place in Singapore pending their being taken out of Singapore.
The transhipper (the organisation or facility that receives the transhipped good or product pending its onward transfer) is responsible for ensuring a valid transhipment permit is secured before transhipping the goods/product.
Scope/covers/list of scheduled biological agent and toxin
A transhipment permit is required for transhipment of biological agents and toxins listed under the First, Second and Fifth Schedule of the Biological Agents and Toxins Act (BATA). For transhipment of biological agents and toxins that are not listed in the Schedules, you are advised to check with the Ministry of Health (MOH) if you are uncertain whether a transhipment permit is required.
View the List of Biological Agents and Toxins [PDF, 465 KB].
Requirements
Biological agents/toxins can either be solely controlled by the MOH, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) or jointly controlled by both agencies.
Pure human pathogens are controlled by MOH while pure animal pathogens are controlled by the AVS. Zoonotic agents are jointly controlled by MOH and AVS. Hence, transhipper must comply with the requirements from MOH and/or AVS, where applicable.
Additional requirements (e.g. approval to possess) may apply for the transhipment of the Scheduled biological agents and toxins. The transhipper is advised to consult MOH regarding the requirements.
Transhipment permit application
Application for transhipment permit is done online via the Tradenet system. However, transhipment of zoonotic agents or pure animal pathogens may be subject to additional requirements by AVS.
The following information and supporting documents are required to be submitted in the application for a transhipment permit:
MOH product code [PDF, 464 KB] (the transhipper is responsible for securing the correct MOH product code). If the agent is a zoonotic agent, aside from the MOH product code, you also need to secure the secondary or AVS product code.
Unique Entity Number (UEN) or Central Registration Number (CRN) of the declarant’s company.
Details of the declarant (Name of declarant, Company name, address and contact number).
Commercial Invoice (to be attached to the online application submitted via the Tradenet system).
Handling agent name.
Departure date from Singapore.
Location where the item will be stored in Singapore while awaiting transhipment.
Other supporting documents deemed necessary by MOH for the clearance of the item.
Fees
Currently, the MOH does not charge any fees for the application or processing of transhipment permit.
Processing time
The processing time for a transhipment permit will depend on the accuracy and completeness of the information and supporting documents submitted.
Transhipment permit is usually approved within 3 working days provided that all the criteria and requirements for transhipment permit has been satisfied. The transhipment permit is valid for 21 working days inclusive of the approval date.
It is advisable to submit applications for transhipment permit at least 5 working days before the item is scheduled to arrive in Singapore.
FAQ
Refer to the FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions.