Traditional medicinal materials
Understand the requirements for the import and sale of traditional medicinal materials in Singapore.
Last updated 4 May 2026
What are traditional medicinal materials
Traditional medicinal materials (TMM) refer to medicinal materials from plants, animals or minerals in their natural states, or in processed forms that have undergone simple processing, such as cutting or drying (see examples).
TMM are intended for medicinal purposes only. Herbal materials used for food purposes, or presented as a food product, such as pre-packed raw herbs and flavoured Asian drinks with herbs, do not come under our purview.
Regulatory requirements of TMM
TMM are not finished dosage forms, such as capsules and tablets, and are not subject to pre-market approval and licensing for their import and sale in Singapore.
Dealers are responsible for the safety and quality of the traditional medicinal materials that they are dealing in, and must comply with the following guidelines before supplying TMM into Singapore.
Toxic heavy metal limits
Your product must not exceed the following:
List of permissible heavy metal limits
Heavy metal | Permissible limits |
|---|---|
Arsenic | 5 parts per million (ppm) |
Cadmium | 0.3ppm |
Lead | 10ppm |
Mercury | 0.5ppm |
Labelling requirements
Your product label should contain the following:
Product Name (including Brand Name, if any)
Name of Herbs
Net Quantity of Herbs
Name and Address of Local Dealer
You are also not allowed to claim or indirectly suggest that the product will prevent, alleviate or cure any of the following conditions:
Blindness
Cancer
Cataract
Drug addiction
Deafness
Diabetes
Epilepsy or fits
Hypertension
Insanity
Kidney diseases
Leprosy
Menstrual disorder
Paralysis
Tuberculosis
Sexual function
Infertility
Impotency
Frigidity
Conception and pregnancy
Dealers must ensure that all health claims and information associated with the products are sufficiently supported and submitted to HSA as and when required. Otherwise, all unsubstantiated health claims and information will be considered misleading and must be removed from the product materials.
Prohibited ingredients
Under Singapore's legislation, TMM imported and sold here cannot contain these ingredients or substances:
Synthetic drugs.
Substances listed in the Poisons List of the Poisons Act.
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE)
Animal derived ingredients
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) refers to a group of progressive diseases including scrapie in sheep and goats, chronic wasting disease in mule, deer and elk, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, as well as Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in humans.
The infectious agents causing these diseases replicate and cause neurological disorders and eventual death in the infected individuals. There are currently no early diagnostic tests or known therapies for these diseases.
If your product contains animal derived ingredients, you must comply with our TSE guidelines to minimise the risk of TSE transmission.
Substances from endangered species
If your product contains substances from endangered species listed under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act, you should contact the Wildlife Management Group of NParks to obtain the necessary Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) import and export permits.
Advertisements and promotions
You will require a valid permit from us before publishing any medical advertisement or conducting any sales promotion activity directed at the general public.
Refer to our advertisements and promotions guidelines for more information on what is required before you run any advertisement or promotion for your products.