Exports, Transhipments and Transits

Under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act (SGCA), a strategic goods permit under Tier 1 of the Strategic Trade Scheme (STS) is required prior to every export, transhipment or bringing in transit of strategic goods.

Please note that strategic goods permits are required for the transhipment of goods that are:

        (a)    listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Strategics Goods (Control) Regulations; or

        (b)    not listed in the Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2009, but you know or suspect or
                have been notified by Singapore Customs that the item is intended or likely to be
                used for nuclear, chemical or biological weapon purposes, or missiles capable of
                delivering such weapons.

The category codes of goods listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations are:

Military Goods

Dual-use Goods

ML1

ML2

ML3

ML4

ML6

ML7.b.1., 2., and 3.

ML7.c.

ML8.a.1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 7., 10., 11., 13.a., 13.c., 15., 18., 19., 20., 21., 23., 26., 27., 28., 32.j., 33., 34., ML8.b.1. to 5.

ML8.c.1., 3. to 9.

ML8.d.1., 2., 3., 5., 6., 8., 9., 10.

ML8.e.1. to 6., 8. to 13., 15. to 18.

ML8.f.

ML8.g.

ML9

ML10

0A, 0B, 0C

1C350.1. to 9., 11., 12., 13., 17., 18., 19., 21., 22., 23., 26. to 36., 38., 46., 51.

52., 54. to 57., 59., 63.

1C351.a.2., 4., 5., 7., 8., 10. to 17., 19., 31.

1C351.b.1., 3., 4.

1C351.c.1., 2., 3., 4., 7., 8., 9., 13.

1C351.d.1., 2., 4. to 7., 12.

1C352.a.1. to 4., 9., 10., 12., 14., 15., 17.

1C352.b.

1C354.b.1., 5.

1C354.c.1.

1C450.a.

1C450.b.;

5A2, 5B2

For transhipment and transit goods that are listed in the Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2009, but are not listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations, a permit is not required if they fulfill the criteria below:

        a)    The goods are immediately brought into an FTZ upon entry to Singapore;
        b)    They remain within the FTZ all the time, until they are brought out of Singapore; and
        c)    The goods only stay in the FTZ for:

               - 45 days or less, if brought in by sea
               - 21 days or less, if brought in by air

For transhipments between air and sea or vice versa, the applicable period is based on the entry mode of the first point of entry. For example, in the case of a good that is transhipped from Changi FTZ to Keppel FTZ, no permit is required if the cargo leaves the FTZ within 21 days.

Though permit is not required, the authorities would have powers to ask for documents or notification, as and when necessary.

Catch-All

Under the 'catch-all' provision in the SGCA, a strategic goods permit under Tier 1 of STS is also required prior to the export, transhipment or bringing in transit of strategic goods, if a person:

has been notified by an authorised officer;
knows; or
has reasonable grounds to suspect,

that the software or technology to be transmitted electronically, is intended or likely to be used, wholly or in part, for or in connection with the development, production, handling, operation, maintenance, storage, detection, identification or dissemination of any nuclear, chemical or biological weapon; or the development, production, maintenance or storage of missiles which are capable of delivering any such weapons.

Permit Declarations for the Exports, Transhipments & Bringing in Transit of Strategic Goods under Tier 1

A strategic goods permit under Tier 1 of the STS, is an individual permit for the physical transfer of strategic goods, to be applied via TradeNet® 4.0.

Strategic goods such as arms and munitions, chemical weapons precursors, etc. which are currently subject to the purview of certain Controlling Agencies, will continue to be subjected to these agencies' existing licensing and other regulatory requirements. However, for the purpose of strategic goods permit requirement, you will only need to apply for ONE strategic goods TradeNet® permit. The strategic goods permit will be routed first to the Controlling Agencies for processing, and then to Singapore Customs, for final processing.

For more information on TradeNet® permit declarations procedures for the exports, transhipments & bringing in transit of strategic goods under Tier 1, please click here (DOC 66KB) .

Processing Time
Most applications will be processed within 5 working days upon receipt of your duly completed application and supporting documents. However, the processing time could be longer for permit applications that require closer assessment or additional information or supporting documents.

To expedite the processing and to avoid last minute delays, traders are advised to submit the permit applications in advance to allow ample time for the authority’s proper assessment.

Permit Declarations for the Exports of Strategic Goods under Tier 2 and Tier 3

Tier 2 and Tier 3 of the STS – Refer to permit approvals on a specified period to for pre-approved exports to specific end-users or destinations

Shipments under Tiers 2 and 3 do not need a pre-approved strategic goods TradeNet permit. Instead, traders can submit a normal TradeNet permit. However, please remember to key in your approved Tier 2/Tier 3 Number and the Product Code in the “Remarks” column of your normal permit application. Do not key the product code into the CA/SC Product Code field.

Contact Us

For further clarifications on the permit and processing requirements for strategic goods and other strategic goods control matters, you may contact:

Singapore Customs Address: Strategic Goods Control Branch Singapore Customs 55 Newton Road #06-02 Revenue House Singapore 307987
Tel	:	(65) 6337 5996
Fax	:	(65) 6337 5212
Email	:	customs_stgc@customs.gov.sg