New TCM shops preparing food or drinks to require licence from March 1: NEA
The NEA said there are currently over 300 existing TCM shops that have such food preparation areas within their premises. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — All new Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) premises that intend to prepare food or drinks, such as herbal tea and tea-leaf eggs, will have to apply for a licence for food preparation areas from March 1.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 25) that these onsite food or drinks preparation areas will have to comply with the design and infrastructural requirements as stipulated in the Code of Practice for Environmental Health (Copeh) for food retail.
“All food handlers involved in the preparation of such food and drinks must (also) attend and pass the Basic Food Hygiene Course,” it added. The course equips food handlers with the necessary knowledge to handle and prepare food safely and hygienically.
The NEA noted there is now over 300 existing TCM shops which have food preparation areas within their premises.
“While there have not been major incidents linked to food or drinks from TCM shops, there is always a risk that food preparation activities, if not done hygienically, can pose risks to public health, such as that of food poisoning,” it said in the statement.
For existing TCM shops that intend to continue with the onsite preparation of food or drinks, they have until March 1 next year to apply for a licence.
The NEA said that it has engaged the Singapore Chinese Druggist Association (SCDA) and TCM shops on the proposal to license the on-site preparation of herbal tea and food at such premises.
For TCMs shop to obtain a licence for food preparation, the authorities must ascertain that they have met basic requirements such as having a piped water inlet and waste water outlet in the food preparation area.
Other Copeh requirements could be waived on a case by case basis until such time the premises undergo major renovations, said the NEA.
The NEA said that it will also be sharing its “design and operational guidelines with existing operators on how they can ensure hygienic food preparation in their current premises”.
“TCM shops that do not have onsite food or drinks preparation, or have decided not to continue doing so, are not required to apply for a food retail licence from NEA,” said the statutory board.
