SFA Implements New Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (SAFE) Framework to Enhance Food Safety – Phase 1 Commences on 19 January 2026

Introduction

The Singapore Food Agency (“SFA“) will implement a new Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (“SAFE“) framework to enhance food safety, which will cover an estimated 45,000 retail and non-retail SFA-licensed food establishments.

The new SAFE framework will replace the existing food hygiene grading system, which rates establishments as ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, or ‘D’ based on annual assessments. While the current system indicates an establishment’s food safety level at the point of assessment, it does not capture whether these standards are consistently maintained over time. The change in the grading system addresses structural gaps by taking into account an establishment’s food safety track record.

The SAFE Framework

The SAFE framework is an enhanced grading of food establishments based on their food safety track records and the measures put in place to uphold food safety. Establishments with consistently good food safety track records will attain higher grades, while those with poor track records will receive lower grades and will be subjected to more frequent inspections. It aims to incentivise food establishments to maintain good food safety standards on a sustained basis.

Categorisation and Grading of Food Establishments

Under the new framework, SFA-licensed food establishments will be classified as either Category 1 or Category 2 depending on the level of food processing or preparation involved.

• Category 1: Food establishments involved in significant processing or preparation of food (e.g. food caterers, restaurants with kitchen size of 16m² or more, in-house kitchens)

• Category 2: Food establishments engaged in low/moderate levels of food processing or preparation (e.g. retail food shops, mobile food services, food stalls in coffee shops, eating houses, canteens, food courts, hawker stalls)

Food establishments licensed by SFA that are not directly involved in the processing or preparation of food are not covered under the SAFE framework. These include main operators of canteens, coffee shops, food courts and private markets. However, individual stalls within these stablishments will still come under Category 2 of the framework.

Food establishments will be graded based on food safety track records as follows:

• Grade ‘A’: with good track records (i.e. no major lapse) for more than three years
• Grade ‘B’: with good track records (i.e. no major lapse) of between one and three years
• Grade ‘C’: committed a major lapse (defined as either a licence suspension under the Points Demerit System (accumulated 12 demerit points within 12 months) or a court conviction for food safety offences)
• NEW: operating for less than a year; this is to distinguish them from operators with established track records

Implementation

The SAFE framework will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 commences on 19 January 2026. More details on the implementation of Phase 2 will be announced by 2027.

Phase 1

Existing food establishments will be assigned a starting grade based on their current track records. The track record starts from the date of the issuance of the licence or the day after the date of the last major lapse.

A fast-track option is available for Category 1 food establishments to obtain an ‘A’ grade, if they have a one-year good track record, appoint an Advanced Food Hygiene Officer (“AFHO“) and implement a certified Food Safety Management System (“FSMS“) to ensure the food they provide is safe for consumption.

The fast-track option is not available for Category 2 establishments.

On 19 January 2026 when the framework is rolled out, consumers will be able to access the grades of food establishments via SFA’s Track Records for Licensed Food Establishments webpage upon keying in the details of the establishment, or via the QR code on the SFA licence displayed at the food establishment.

Phase 2

In Phase 2, food safety grades will continue to be based on food establishments’ track records. Additionally, Category 1 food establishments aiming to maintain or attain grade ‘A’ status must appoint an AFHO and implement a FSMS. 

Concluding Words

The new SAFE framework enhances food industry standards by factoring in a food establishment’s track record in determining its safety status. Its focus on sustained compliance and operational discipline, rather than episodic inspections, will differentiate establishments that invest in certified systems, governance, and culture from those managing to minimum standards.

In a market with heightened public sensitivity to food safety, and in the wake of several high-profile food poisoning incidents, visible assurance through grades, the appointment of AFHO, and certified FSMS can be leveraged by food establishments as a key competitive edge with customers, partners, and investors.

Industry players should also strengthen internal incident prevention, detection and remediation processes. As a “major lapse” includes licence suspension under the Points Demerit System or a food‑safety conviction, a single adverse event under the new framework can depress an establishment’s grade status for multiple years. It therefore becomes more critical to invest in monitoring, training and rapid corrective protocols to protect one’s track record.

If you have any queries on the new framework or need support on regulatory gap assessments, AFHO and FSMS implementation planning, SFA engagement and responses, incident preparedness and crisis management, you may contact our Team set out on this page, who will be happy to assist.