Importing chemicals and hazardous substances into Singapore: what is required?
Yes for controlled substances — a licence or permit from NEA, plus transport rules on top.
The short answer
| Short answer | Yes for controlled substances — a licence or permit from NEA, plus transport rules on top. |
|---|---|
| Competent Authority | National Environment Agency (NEA), with SCDF for petroleum and flammable materials |
| Type of requirement | Hazardous substances licence or permit; separate transport classification |
Importing chemicals and hazardous substances into Singapore
Chemicals bring two distinct sets of obligations that people conflate. One is import control: whether the substance is on Singapore's hazardous substances list and needs a licence or permit. The other is transport: whether it is classified as dangerous goods for air or sea carriage. A substance can be controlled for import but unremarkable to transport, or vice versa, and both questions need answering separately.
What is typically involved
Requirements depend on the specific product, so treat this as the shape of the process rather than a checklist for your particular case. National Environment Agency (NEA), with SCDF for petroleum and flammable materials is the authority on the detail.
- A hazardous substances licence or permit where the substance is controlled.
- A safety data sheet for the specific product.
- Correct dangerous goods classification, packing, and documentation for transport.
- Storage licensing where quantities exceed thresholds, potentially involving SCDF.
- Controls specific to ozone-depleting substances and certain refrigerants.
What catches importers out
These are the recurring surprises in this category — the points where an assumption carried over from another market causes a problem here.
- Import control and transport classification are separate questions — answering one does not answer the other.
- Mixtures may be controlled on the basis of a component present at low concentration.
- Refrigerants in equipment can bring controls that the equipment itself does not.
- Storage above threshold quantities brings a further licensing layer.
- Safety data sheets from suppliers are sometimes outdated — check the revision date.
Official sources
Control status depends on the specific product, and requirements change. These are the authorities that decide — confirm your particular goods with them before shipping.
Last reviewed August 2026. This page describes the general framework for this category of goods. It does not determine whether your specific product is controlled — only the relevant Competent Authority can do that.
Questions we get asked about this
How do I find out if my chemical is controlled?
Start from the safety data sheet, identify the substance and its CAS number, and check against NEA's hazardous substances list. Mixtures need checking by component, since a controlled substance at low concentration can still bring the mixture into scope.
Is a dangerous goods classification the same as import control?
No. Dangerous goods classification governs how something may be transported. Import control governs whether it may be brought in and by whom. Both need to be established, and they are administered by different frameworks.
What about refrigerant inside equipment?
Certain refrigerants are controlled, including ozone-depleting substances and some hydrofluorocarbons, and this can apply to gas contained within imported equipment. Get the refrigerant type from the equipment specification before shipping.
More in Do you need an import permit?
E-Waste & Used Electronics
Yes — waste electronics are controlled, and hazardous waste movement is tightly restricted.
Radioactive Materials & X-Ray Equipment
Yes — a licence is required, including for equipment that merely contains a source.
Petroleum Products & Lubricants
Petroleum products are dutiable and controlled; storage brings further licensing.
Films, Publications & Media
Films generally require classification; publications and media are subject to content controls.
CITES & Wildlife Products
Yes — CITES permits are required, and the rules apply to finished goods containing listed material.
Toys & Consumer Products
Safety requirements apply, and specific electrical and gas products need registration before sale.
Related pages
Dangerous goods
The classes, the paperwork, and the everyday items people do not realise are regulated.
Commercial Kitchen Equipment
F&B equipment where gas, electrical, and refrigerant specifications matter before the freight does.
Petroleum Products & Lubricants
Petroleum products are dutiable and controlled; storage brings further licensing.
Customs and import coordination
Help understanding what a shipment needs before it clears — permits, declarations, and the information a Declaring Agent will ask for.
TradeNet permit guidance
Plain-language guidance on the TradeNet permit process — what a UEN and Customs Account are for, and how a Declaring Agent fits in.
Have a shipment that fits this?
Start the guided enquiry and describe it in plain terms. We will tell you what is involved — including if the answer is that you do not need us.