Bon Appetit: Insects May Soon Land on Your Favourite Restaurant’s Menu

Insects could soon be part of the menu of your favourite restaurants as they’re gaining more commercial interest in recent years.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced in a media release that they’re seeking feedback from the food and animal feed industry, including interested parties, about the import conditions and pre-licensing requirements for insects and insect products in the city-state. This is in line with the queries they’ve been receiving regarding the importation of insects for human consumption and livestock feed.

To make sure that the insects are indeed safe, the SFA noted that they’ll set regulations to companies planning to import or farm insects. These include:

• Providing documentary proof that the imported insects are farmed in regulated establishments with food safety controls, and ensuring that the substrate used for rearing or feeding insects is not contaminated with pathogens or harmful contaminants
• Conducting and submitting safety assessments for SFA’s review in line with the agency’s novel food regulatory framework before they can be allowed for sale
• Subjecting insect products to food safety testing as with any other food available in our market

Companies who don’t comply with the regulations above will not be allowed to sell in any way.

The public consultation on the regulation of insect and insect products, both imported and locally farmed or processed, is available on the SFA’s website and will end on Dec. 4.