Singapore Publishes the List of Approved Novel Foods
Singapore continues to solidify its position as a global leader in future-facing food technology. In March 2026, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) published the first List of Approved Novel Foods (as of 17 March 2026) [1] spanning 14 products from algae, fungal mycelial biomass/mycoprotein, to cell-cultured foods (chicken and quail) and precision-fermentation human milk oligosaccharides, etc. These novel foods were approved in the period between May 21, 2019 and October 17, 2025. The release of this long-awaited list directly addresses industry demand for a transparent and centralized look into Singapore’s novel food regulatory framework.
Specifically, the list provides detailed information on novel foods permitted for import and sale in Singapore, including product name, decision date, production strain identities, manufacturing processes, and technical specifications. Notably, SFA neither discloses the applicant names of these approved novel foods nor the application dossiers filed by applicants. This maintains some level of confidentiality, while offering transparency on the products themselves.
Among the approved 14 novel foods, there are four cultured meat products, including three cultured chicken cells/biomass and one cultured Japanese quail fibroblast cells. Proteins produced via biomass fermentation and precision fermentation, as well as algae and fungal biomass, are also included among the approved novel foods, such as Pleurotus pulmonarius mushroom mycelium.
Since SFA granted the world’s first approval for cultivated meat in December 2020, the alternative protein sector has eagerly awaited a centralized, publicly accessible document that consolidates the agency’s decisions. The release of this list fulfills that demand.
We will continue to report regulatory updates on alternative proteins in the Asia Pacific region. Please sign up for our newsletters here.
Keller and Heckman represents the food industry, including alternative protein companies, around the world on various regulatory matters. If you have any questions about novel food application or need any assistance in better understanding the regulatory landscape of alternative proteins in Asia, please do not hesitate to contact David Ettinger (ettinger@khlaw.com), Jenny Xin Li (li@khlaw.com), or your existing contact at Keller and Heckman LLP.
[1] https://www.sfa.gov.sg/docs/default-source/regulatory-standards-frameworks-and-guidelines/2026-03-sfa-list-of-approved-novel-foods.pdf