NEA Mandatory Chemical Reporting Framework

All Hazardous Substances (HS) Licence and Permit Holders.

Are you aware that the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) is going to introduce a mandatory Chemical Reporting Framework for all Hazardous Substances (HS) Licence and Permit Holders.?

The objective of this framework is to track and monitor chemicals that are imported and/or manufactured in Singapore but are not currently regulated by any agencies. Through this framework, NEA can better identify chemicals that may pose environmental and public health concerns and prioritise them for potential control where necessary to safeguard both the environment and public safety.

Effective 1 Jan 2026, HS Licence and Permit Holders must carry out chemical reporting during their licence and/or permit renewals that are due on or after this implementation date. This reporting obligation will be imposed as a licensing condition and applies to companies that import and/or manufacture chemicals as the first point of entry into Singapore and meet all the following requirements:

a)The chemicals are pure substances, including individual chemical components within mixtures; and

b)The chemicals are manufactured locally and/or imported for local use (net import amount) in quantities equal to or exceeding 1 metric tonne (MT)/year; and

c)The chemicals meet at least one of the criteria below:

(i)Category 1 or 2 acute toxicity for any exposure route under Globally Harmonised System (GHS) classification

(ii)Category 1 aquatic toxicity (acute) under GHS classification

(iii)Category 1A, 1B or 2 for Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reproductive (CMR) toxicity under GHS classification

(iv)Persistent in the environment (i.e., half-life of more than 6 months in air, water, soil, or sediment)

(v)Bioaccumulative in the environment (i.e., Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) or Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) exceeding 5000)

3 For chemicals meeting the reporting criteria, companies must submit the following information during their licence and/or permit renewal period via the Chemical Reporting Form on FormSG at: https://form.gov.sg/6846325c0b06f01fa6fbdd48

a)Chemical identity

b)Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

c)Maximum annual production and/or import quantity

d)Intended / identified use(s) of the chemical

For more information on NEA’s Chemical Reporting Framework, please refer to the “Industry Guidance Document for NEA’s Chemical Reporting Framework”, which was developed in consultation with representatives from the Singapore Chemical Industry Council. The document is available at:https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/pollution-control/chemical-safety/hazardous-substances/management-of-hazardous-substances

If you have enquirers regarding NEA’s Chemical Reporting Framework, you may contact the following officers:

a)Mr Ray Ong at ray_ong@nea.gov.sg

b)Ms Steffi Koh at steffi_koh@nea.gov.s

Mass Fire Evacuation Drill 2025

The National Fire and Emergency Preparedness Council (NFEC) has designated September 2025 as the month for Mass Fire Evacuation Drill (MFED) for commercial and industrial premises. The  objective of of this initiative is to enhance emergency evacuation awareness of occupants in both the commercial and industrial premises as well as the public in general as well as strengthening the skills and knowledge of the emergency response teams.

All commercial and industrial premises are invited to participate in this event by conducting a fire evacuation drill during September 2025. This drill will fulfil one of the annual evacuation drill requirements mandated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. 

Upon completion, participating premises will receive a Certificate of Participation from the NFEC after September 2025. To participate in MFED 2025, please complete by scanning the QR Code below or by using the link as shown below:

FormSG link: https://go.gov.sg/nfecfireevacdrill

For any clarification, email to: secretariat.nfec@gmail.com

*Please note that representatives from NFEC and SCDF will not be observing the MFED at your premises on the date of the drill.

Phasing Out Fire Fighting Foam

Are you aware that effective from 1 Jan 2026, Singapore will be phasing out the import and use of firefighting foams containing PFOA and PFOS, including their salts and related compounds. Companies are allowed to continue using their fire-fighting foams after 1 Jan 2026 if the concentrations of the trace contaminants within the foams are below the respective threshold limits as shown.

(a) PFOA, its salts and related compounds: 25 ppb

(b) PFOS, its salts and related compounds: 10,000 ppb

(c) PFHxS, its salts and related compounds: 100 ppb

Companies storing or using fire-fighting foams containing PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, their salts and related compounds at or above their respective threshold concentrations are required to engage NEA licensed Toxic Industrial Waste Collectors (TIWCs) that are capable of collecting and disposing of such fire-fighting foams

Here is the list of NEA approved licensed toxic waste collector. 

What should l do if my company is using fire fighting foams containing PFOA and PFOS including its salts and related compounds

1)Verify that the fire fighting foam PFOA and PFOS by sending sample of your current fire fighting foam concentrate to accredited laboratory ( Eg SGS ) for analysis  with the following test parameters and specifications

(a) PFOA, its salts and related compounds: 25 ppb

(b) PFOS, its salts and related compounds: 10,000 ppb

(c) PFHxS, its salts and related compounds: 100 ppb

If your results are below NEA threshold limits, you can continue to use the foam concentrate .But you need to check with the foam concentrate supplier whether the foam concentrate will degrade to PFOA and PFOS over time. And if it does, you need to seek for alternative fluorine free foam by engaging your current fire protection equipment service provider who serviced and maintained your fire protection system.

Upon selection of the suitable foam concentrate, the fire protection service provider will need to engage their Professional Engineer (PE) to conduct the recommended foam hydraulic calculation using industry recognized software to determine the following :

1)Capacity of the bladder tank - foam concentrate storage

2)Volume of foam concentrate required

3)Number of foam generator required.

When these information are made available then you can budget in for your organization foam transition.

Here is list of HS and Product Codes of the affected materials are listed in ANNEX A. With effect from 1 Jan 2026, traders are required to use the appropriate HS and Product Codes when declaring their import and export in TradeNet® permit applications. All such TradeNet® permit applications will be subject to Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD)’s processing and approval.

For further enquiries, you may email them to Ms Nikki Lee at <Nikki_Lee@nea.gov.sg>