Singapore approves 16 insect species as food, including grasshoppers, silkworms, crickets

“These insects and insect products can be used for human consumption or as animal feed for food-producing animals.”

The SFA first conducted a public consultation on the regulation of insects and insect products in end-2022.

In April last year, the agency said that 16 species of insects would receive the green light for consumption in the second half of 2023, but the decision was pushed back.

Earlier this year, the SFA, said it was finalising the implementation details and aimed to introduce a regulatory framework in the first half of this year.

In late June, sources such as restaurants and potential farms said that the approval was imminent.

The SFA said it has developed an insect regulatory framework that establishes guidelines for insects to be approved as food, “as the insect industry is nascent and insects are a new food item here”.

These guidelines apply to businesses intending to import, farm, or process insects into food or animal feed.

They stipulate that the insect species must be assessed to have a history of human consumption, contaminants must not be introduced in the farming and processing of insects and insect products, are farmed in regulated establishments with food safety controls, are not harvested from the wild and the final product must be safe for consumption.

Insects outside the 16 approved species have to undergo evaluation to ensure that they are safe to consume, the SFA added.

While there are currently no international standards for the sale and consumption of insects as food or animal feed, the SFA’s guidelines “are developed following a thorough scientific review taking reference from countries and regions that have allowed the consumption of certain insects as food”.

Companies selling pre-packaged food