S'pore Food Agency to grade F&B outlets from A to C in new food safety framework from Jan. 19

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) will be implementing a new food safety framework from Jan. 19, 2026.

Called the Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework, this will replace the current grading system, where food establishments are graded from "A" to "D" based on annual snapshot assessments.

Under the new framework, food establishments will be graded "A", "B" or "C", based on their food safety track records and implementation of food safety management systems with the appointment of an Advanced Food Hygiene Officer (AFHO).

Establishments with consistent good food safety track records will attain higher grades, while those with poor food safety track records will attain lower grades.

According to SFA, lower grade establishments will also be subject to more frequent inspections.

Those who have been in operation for less than a year will begin with a "NEW" so consumers can differentiate them from operators with established track records.

Category 1 food establishments will need to meet two additional food safety requirements.

Category 1 food establishments are described as food establishments that are involved in significant processing or preparation of food, for example restaurants, catering services, food processing establishments and slaughter houses.

Category 2, on the other hand, are establishments that engage in low or moderate levels of food processing or preparation.

This includes:

• Retail food shops like bakeries, cloud kitchens and restaurants with kitchen size less than 16 sqm
• Mobile food services like food vending machines, takeaway food carts and mobile food wagons
• Food stalls in coffeeshops, canteens, food courts and hawker stalls
• Others like cold stores and supermarkets

The SAFE framework will be implemented in two phases to give Category 1 food establishments time to put in place the additional requirements.

While the first phase will start from Jan. 19, details on phase two will be announced by 2027.

Phase 1

In phase 1, food establishments will receive a grade based on their current food safety track records.

The grades will be updated based on their food safety track records.

If a food establishment commits a major lapse, it will be immediately downgraded to grade "C".

Phase 2

In Phase 2, Category 1 establishments are also required to appoint an AFHO and implement Food Safety Management System (FSMS) to maintain or attain grade "A" status.

Top image from Tribe Tours