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How to Import Organic Japanese Tea to Singapore (2026 Updated)
Updated July 2026: This guide has been revised to reflect Singapore’s current import regulations — including the 9% GST rate, the TradeNet permit system, the Food Safety and Security Act 2025 transition, and the food-labelling changes that took effect on 30 January 2026.
While Singaporeans have been caffeine high for a long time, no one can deny that tea lovers are also on a roll. Various Singaporean local tea brands claim that they have remained 20 years behind coffee primarily because Starbucks, Coffee Club, and other independent brands have set foot into this world before tea could make its mark. But, now, many people have changed their preferences, and they are shifting to tea. So, it’s about time that Singapore should start importing organic Japanese tea to Singapore. But, how can it do that?
Brief History of Organic Japanese Tea
The production of organic Japanese tea started in the 8th century. Still, its exportation started late, approximately in the late 1900s when tons of organic Japanese were exported to the United States and other countries. However, the production of Japanese tea started to fall when coffee and green tea emerged into the world. Many youngsters from the tea farming families moved into the cities instead of producing Japanese tea. But, as we’re moving forward, the production of organic Japanese tea is escalating, and it’s getting exported to the United States yet again along with several European countries.
Organic Japanese Tea Today
According to various studies, about 72.3% of Japanese drink Japanese tea daily, while 89.6% of people drink Japanese green tea weekly. Now, you can analyze why Japanese tea is termed as one of the most consumed beverages in the world.
Organic Japanese tea has gathered its fame due to its exotic flavor, aroma, and taste that soothes your entire palette. Around twenty varieties of organic Japanese tea are present as of now, and this limited number guarantees that you’ll get a specialized and high-quality cup of tea every time. Now, Singaporeans’ enhanced love for organic tea calls for this organic Japanese tea, but how can they import it to their country?
How to import organic Japanese tea to Singapore?
Before you import organic Japanese tea to Singapore, there are certain rules and regulations that you’ll need to abide by. Singapore’s main regulatory body is the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) which takes care of all the imports to Singapore. The government of Singapore has granted many powers to SFA. It can:
- Issue directions to the owners of the food businesses to comply with the rules of food safety.
- Demand information regarding your imported product.
- Destroy the food product that violates the rules and regulations and is harmful to the health of Singaporeans.
What will you do before importing organic Japanese tea to Singapore?
The first thing you need to do in order to import organic Japanese tea to Singapore is that you need to apply for a trader’s license. Now, you can only apply for a trader’s license if your business is registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). This authority will provide you with a Unique Entity Number (UEN), a 9- or 10-character identifier. UEN enables you to import products to Singapore.
As organic Japanese tea somewhat falls into the processed foods category, you’ll need to register to Import Processed Food Products and Food Appliances in order to get a trader’s license. The registration is free of charge, is applied for through the GoBusiness Licensing portal, and is typically processed within one working day — you will also need to activate your Customs Account with Singapore Customs and set up a GIRO account with SFA. Once you’ve applied for the trader’s license, you need to move on to applying for an Import Permit through TradeNet, Singapore’s National Single Window for trade declarations — most importers submit this via an appointed declaring agent or freight forwarder. (The old TradeXchange platform was retired in 2018 and replaced by the Networked Trade Platform.) In the application form of the Import Permit, you’ll need to mention the Establishment Code of the exporting country along with the Product Code that you’re importing. If you’ve provided the correct information, SFA and Singapore Customs will approve your permit, and you’ll receive a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) that will serve as an SFA Import Permit.
What will you have to do when your organic Japanese tea is imported to Singapore?
There are several documents that SFA may request to inspect when your organic Japanese tea arrives in the country. These documents are also kind of a record of how and where the imported goods were manufactured. It is done to ensure that all your imported products comply with the Sale of Food Act and The Food Regulations. For processed goods, SFA has a Regulated Source Programme (its official name today) for high-risk food categories. According to this program, you should be importing goods from that establishment that is properly supervised by the regulating authorities of the exporting country. Tea is not on SFA’s high-risk list, so for organic Japanese tea these source documents simply need to be available if SFA requests them. Some of the examples of the source documents are:
- Certificate of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)
- Certificate of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
- Health Certificate (issued by the regulatory body of exporting country)
- Factory License (issued by the regulatory body of exporting country)
- Attestation of Export (issued by the regulatory body of exporting country)
Import Product Inspection
The SFA writes a specific approval code and message on your CCP. This message suggests whether the imported goods will be inspected or not. If the message states that your product will be inspected, we suggest you make an online booking through the Inspection & Laboratory e-Services of the SFA. At inspection, you’ll need to present these three documents:
- Cargo Clearance Permit
- All the relevant source documents
- A part of your consignment for food inspection
If your consignment doesn’t meet the rules, requirements, and regulations of SFA, you won’t be able to sell and spread those products in Singapore.
FAQs
What documents will be required to register for UEN in Singapore?
To incorporate your company in Singapore, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- The name of your company
- Brief description of your business endeavors
- Information of the Shareholders
- Information of the Directors
- Registered address
- Details about the company secretary
- Constitution of the company
- The last day of the proposed financial year-end of the company
What other agencies besides ACRA can issue UEN?
- The Ministry of Law
- The International Enterprise Singapore
- The Ministry of Defense
- The Ministry of Finance
- The Ministry of Education
- The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
- The Ministry of Health
- The Ministry of Manpower
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The People’s Association
- The Singapore Land Authority
- The Monetary Authority
- The Registry of Societies
- The Ministry of Communications and Information
- The Ministry of National Development
- The Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth
How much customs duties and sales tax will be applied to importing organic Japanese tea?
As organic Japanese tea is a non-dutiable good, there will be no customs duty tax on the import. However, you will have to pay 9% GST on the CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value on the import of organic Japanese tea to Singapore (the rate rose from 7% to 8% on 1 January 2023, and to 9% on 1 January 2024). For smaller direct-to-consumer shipments: since 1 January 2023, low-value consignments (CIF up to S$400) bought from GST-registered overseas sellers are charged GST at checkout under the Overseas Vendor Registration regime.
What are the regulations stipulated by The Sale of Food Act?
As of 2026, the Sale of Food Act 1973 and its Food Regulations still govern day-to-day food imports, but they are being progressively replaced by the Food Safety and Security Act 2025 (passed on 8 January 2025) — the first tranche took effect on 28 November 2025, and the full transition is expected by around 2028. Under the current rules, whenever you import products to Singapore, the Sale of Food Act will stipulate regulations on the following things:
- Packaging
- Expiration date
- Labeling requirements
- The minimum level of certain constituents in the product
What are the labeling requirements for importing products to Singapore?
All labels must be in English. Under the amended Food Regulations in force since 30 January 2026, prepackaged food labels must show: the product name, a list of ingredients, the net quantity in metric units, the country of origin with an accompanying statement (for example, “Product of Japan”), the name and address of the Singapore importer or distributor, lot identification, and directions for use where needed. Tea is not on the mandatory date-marking list — a “best before” date on tea is voluntary, but once printed it becomes legally binding.
Do I need radiation certificates to import Japanese tea to Singapore?
No. Singapore fully lifted its remaining Fukushima-related restrictions on Japanese food imports on 28 May 2021, so tea from Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and every other Japanese prefecture requires no radiation certificate or prefecture-of-origin paperwork. No new restrictions were introduced after the 2023 treated-water release either.
Does my tea need a special organic certification for Singapore?
Singapore has no domestic organic certification scheme. To label tea as “organic”, SFA requires certification under a system that complies with the Codex guidelines for organically produced foods (CXG 32-1999). Japan’s JAS organic certification satisfies this, so JAS-certified Japanese tea can be sold as organic in Singapore without any re-certification.
Conclusion
Singaporeans love for tea is escalating day by day. So, this proves to be a good opportunity to give something new and flavorsome to their taste palettes. Organic Japanese tea is very high-quality and scrumptious tea for all those people who crave a nice cup of tea. However, if you want to import organic Japanese tea to Singapore, there will be certain rules and regulations that you will have to abide by.
Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?
This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you. Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant.
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University