Implemented on 1 January 2003 (PDF 675KB, PDF 34.3KB), the Strategic Goods (Control) Act (SGCA) controls the transfer and brokering of strategic goods, and related software and technology, as well as any other goods and technology capable of being used to develop, produce, operate, stockpile or acquire weapons capable of causing mass destruction, and missiles capable of delivering such weapons.
The SGCA enhances other existing domestic legislation already enacted to regulate certain categories of strategic goods such as the Arms and Explosives Act, the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act and the Radiation Protection Act, and related controls under the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act.
As part of our continuous efforts to enhance our strategic goods control system, and in line with Singapore's commitment to our international obligations to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or their delivery systems, Singapore expanded the strategic goods control list for export, transhipment and transit with effect from 1 January 2008 (PDF 287KB, PDF 66.5KB). The Strategic Goods (Control) (Amendment) Act 2007 (PDF 247KB) was passed by Parliament on 19 September 2007, and the Strategic Goods (Control) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, the Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2007 and the Strategic Goods (Control) (Brokering) Order 2007 were gazetted on 29 November 2007 (PDF 52KB).
The SGCA, incorporating the SGC (Amendment) Act 2007 can be downloaded via this link.
The Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations (SGCR) was gazetted and implemented on 5 January 2004 and 7 January 2004 respectively to put in place a set of procedural guidelines for the administration of the SGCA. Specifically, the SGCR enables Singapore Customs officers to impose composition fines for technical offences, provides for facilitative permit declaration procedures for certain legitimate transactions, and spells out conditions of approval, revocation or suspension for strategic goods permits.
Implemented from 1 January 2008, the Strategic Goods (Control) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 stipulates the exemption of a permit requirement for certain strategic goods in the control list, for transhipments and transit goods, if they remain/store in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) within a specified period. However, when necessary, the authorities still have the powers to ask for shipping details and documents on these shipments.
In addition, under the amended regulations, mixtures containing chemicals controlled under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) are exempted from control if the controlled chemical is below a certain percentage of the mixture, as specified in the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act.
The SGCR, incorporating the SGC (Amendment) Regulations 2007 can be downloaded via this link.
The Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2007 (PDF 799KB) contained the expanded and comprehensive listing of controlled items, with effect from 1 January 2008. This Order was rescinded and replaced with the Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2009 (PDF 774KB) since 1 April 2009, which incorporated changes to the control list of the multilateral export control regimes and our key trading partners like the EU, US and Hong Kong. Singapore Customs also informed the trading community that the control list will be updated annually to be in line with international practices.
This Order has been rescinded and replaced with the Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2010 (PDF 810KB). The new Order is effective from 1 April 2010.
The Strategic Goods (Control) (Brokering) Order 2007 (PDF 196KB) lists the categories of items and goods, which require a brokering registration. Brokering refers to any act to facilitate the arrangement or negotiation of a contract resulting in the movement of goods from one foreign country to another.