072023 INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE (E-SPS) ENQUIRY SERVICE ON CUSTOMS ESERVICES

Circular No: 07/2023 12 May 2023

(updated 26 June 2026)

Traders and Declaring Agents

Dear Sir/Madam

INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE (E-SPS) ENQUIRY

SERVICE ON CUSTOMS ESERVICES

With effect from 12 May 2023, traders and their authorised declaring agents (DAs) can use

the new electronic Sanitary1 and Phytosanitary certificate (e-SPS) enquiry service on Customs

eServices to retrieve the e-SPS issued by overseas competent authorities electronically.

2 With the new system, traders and their authorised DAs who import relevant goods from

overseas will be able to retrieve the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Certificates online. They no longer

need to wait for the hardcopy of e-SPS to be couriered to them from overseas. This minimises the

risk of delayed or missing mail, and even fraudulent certificates.

3 Implemented by Singapore Customs together with the National Parks Board (NParks) and

the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the e-SPS Enquiry Service will be rolled out progressively and will

commence with the following country and products2:

a) For imports from New Zealand:

i. meat and meat products for human consumption - under SFA;

ii. animal products not for human consumption, plant and plant products - under

NParks.

4 To allow their Declaring Agent(s) to retrieve their e-SPS details, traders must inform

Singapore Customs of their Declaring Agent(s) via www.customs.gov.sg > eServices > Search for

“Choose your International Connectivity Services & Authorise your Declaring Agent” or via the URL

go.gov.sg/aut-da.

1 Includes veterinary health certificate.

2 Traders will be updated via circulars should more countries and products be included.

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5 To retrieve their e-SPS details, traders and their authorised DAs can access the e-Service via

www.customs.gov.sg > eServices > Search for “Electronic Sanitary and Phytosanitary (e-SPS)

Enquiry Service” or via go.gov.sg/espsenquiry. To perform the query, traders and their authorised

DAs will require the Certificate Reference Number and indicate the exporting country (i.e. New

Zealand).

6 For further assistance, please contact the following, or refer to the Frequently Asked

Questions in Annex A.

SFA (for matters related to e-SPS https://csp.sfa.gov.sg/feedback

exchange i.e products for human

consumption)

NParks (for matters pertaining to https://www.nparks.gov.sg/feedback

e-SPS exchange i.e plant and

animal products) https://go.gov.sg/importingplantproducts

https://go.gov.sg/importinganimalproducts

Singapore Customs Contact Centre go.gov.sg/customs-doc

(for system or technical issues

encountered in Customs +65 6355 2000

eServices)

Issued by:

National Parks Board

Singapore Customs

Singapore Food Agency

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Annex A

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1: Do I need to log in to Customs eServices to use the e-SPS Enquiry Service?

A1: Yes, you will need to log in to Customs eServices at via www.customs.gov.sg > eServices > Search

for “Electronic Sanitary and Phytosanitary (e-SPS) Enquiry Service” or via go.gov.sg/espsenquiry to use

the service.

Q2: What happens if other traders happen to perform the query using my Certificate Reference

Number? Will they be able to view my consignment details?

A2: Only e-SPSs relevant to the trader/DA will be displayed. DAs need to be authorised by traders before

they are able to view the e-SPS details.

Q3: Are we able to retrieve e-SPS relating to imports of other products from New Zealand?

A3: No. The current scope of the e-SPS Enquiry Service only covers imports of the stated products with

New Zealand. There are plans to expand the Service to include other products in future.

Q4: Will New Zealand authorities continue to issue hardcopy SPS certificates when electronic

certification is implemented?

A4: To allow traders to have a smooth transition to the s-SPS certification, the New Zealand authorities

will concurrently issue the hardcopy SPS certificates with the electronic ones at the initial stage for a

certain period of time (e.g. up to 6 months from roll out date). Thereafter, issuance of e-SPS by New

Zealand authorities will be fully digital.

Q5: How do I remove declaring agent that I no longer want to authorise?

A5: Trader can log in to www.customs.gov.sg > eServices > Search for “Choose your International

Connectivity Services & Authorise your Declaring Agent” or via the URL go.gov.sg/aut-da to remove the

authorisation.

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Circular No. 07/2023: Title of Circular: INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC SANITARY AND

PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE (E-SPS) ENQUIRY SERVICE ON NETWORKED TRADE PLATFORM

(NTP) (dated 12 May 2023)

Paragraph Current Details Updated Details Date of

Update

6 NTP Helpdesk (for Customs Contact Centre (for 23 Nov 2023

technical issues or matters technical issues or matters related

related to onboarding to to onboarding to NTP)

NTP)

6 ntp_helpdesk@ncs.com.sg Please call +65 6355 2000 or via the 23 Nov 2023

live chat at www.ntp.gov.sg >

Contact Us > Chat with us now!

4 To allow their Declaring To allow their Declaring Agent(s) to 29 Jan 2024

Agent(s) to retrieve their retrieve their e-SPS details, traders

eSPS details, traders must must inform Singapore Customs of

inform Singapore Customs their Declaring Agent(s). Traders can

of their Declaring Agent(s) do so by accessing the form via the

by logging in to NTP Portal at www.ntp.gov.sg >

www.ntp.gov.sg > Government Services > Choose your

Business Account > International Connectivity Services &

Manage Consent & Authorise your Declaring Agent.

Authorisation for NTP

Services > Choose your

International Connectivity

Services & Authorise your

Declaring Agent

5 To retrieve their e-SPS To retrieve their e-SPS details, 29 Jan 2024

details, traders and their traders and their authorised DAs will

authorised DAs will have have log in to www.ntp.gov.sg >

to log in to Government Services > Electronic

www.ntp.gov.sg > Sanitary and Phytosanitary (e-SPS)

Government Services > Enquiry Service. To perform the

International Connectivity query, traders and their authorised

Management > Electronic DAs will require the Certificate

Sanitary and Reference Number and indicate the

Phytosanitary (e-SPS) exporting country (i.e. New

Enquiry Service. To Zealand).

perform the query,

traders and their

authorised DAs will

require the Certificate

Reference Number and

indicate the exporting

country (i.e. New

Zealand).

Page 4 of 6

A1 Yes, you will need an NTP Yes, you will need an NTP account to 29 Jan 2024

(Annex A) account to use the service. use the service. Information on how

Information on how to set to set up your NTP account can be

up your NTP account can found at www.ntp.gov.sg (Get

be found at Started > Setup NTP Account).

www.ntp.gov.sg (Get

Started > Accessing NTP >

Sign in with Singpass).

A5 Trader can log in to Trader can access the form via the 29 Jan 2024

(Annex A) www.ntp.gov.sg > NTP portal at www.ntp.gov.sg >

Business Account > Government Services > Choose your

Manage Consent & International Connectivity Services &

Authorisation for NTP Authorise your Declaring Agent to

Services > Choose your remove the authorisation.

International Connectivity

Services & Authorise your

Declaring Agent to

remove the authorisation.

1 Networked Trade Platform Customs eServices 26 June

(NTP) 2026

4 To allow their Declaring To allow their Declaring Agent(s) to 26 June

Agent(s) to retrieve their retrieve their e-SPS details, traders 2026

e-SPS details, traders must must inform Singapore Customs of

inform Singapore Customs their Declaring Agent(s) via

of their Declaring www.customs.gov.sg > eServices >

Agent(s). Traders can do Search for “Choose your

so by accessing the form International Connectivity Services &

via the NTP Portal at Authorise your Declaring Agent” or

www.ntp.gov.sg > via the URL go.gov.sg/aut-da

Government Services >

Choose your International

Connectivity Services &

Authorise your Declaring

Agent.

5 To retrieve their e-SPS To retrieve their e-SPS details, 26 June

details, traders and their traders and their authorised DAs can 2026

authorised DAs will have accessed the e-Service via

log in to www.customs.gov.sg > eServices >

www.ntp.gov.sg > Search for “Electronic Sanitary and

Government Services > Phytosanitary (e-SPS) Enquiry

Electronic Sanitary and Service” or via

Phytosanitary (e-SPS) go.gov.sg/espsenquiry. To perform

Enquiry Service. To the query, traders and their

perform the query, authorised DAs will require the

traders and their Certificate Reference Number and

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authorised DAs will indicate the exporting country (i.e.

require the Certificate New Zealand).

Reference Number and

indicate the exporting

country (i.e. New

Zealand).

6 For further assistance, For system or technical issues 26 June

please contact the NTP encountered in Customs eServices, 2026

Helpdesk (for technical please contact the Singapore

issues or matters related Customs Contact Centre at 6355

to onboarding to NTP): 2000 or submit an online enquiry

ntp_helpdesk@ncs.com.sg form at go.gov.sg/customs-doc

Q1 Do I need an NTP account Do I need to log in to Customs eServices t2o6 June

(Annex A) to use the e-SPS Enquiry use the e-SPS Enquiry Service? 2026

Service?

A1 Yes, you will need an NTP Yes, you will need to log in to 26 June

(Annex A) account to use the service. Customs eServices at via 2026

Information on how to set www.customs.gov.sg > eServices >

up your NTP account can Search for “Electronic Sanitary and

be found at Phytosanitary (e-SPS) Enquiry

www.ntp.gov.sg (Get Service” or via

Started > Setup NTP go.gov.sg/espsenquiry to use the

Account). service.

A5 Trader can access the Trader can log in to 26 June

(Annex A) form via the NTP portal at www.customs.gov.sg > eServices > 2026

www.ntp.gov.sg > Search for “Choose your

Government Services > International Connectivity Services &

Choose your International Authorise your Declaring Agent” or

Connectivity Services & via the URL go.gov.sg/aut-da to

Authorise your Declaring remove the authorisation.

Agent to remove the

authorisation.

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