Permission to Breed, Keep, Collect, Distribute, Sell, Import, or Export Vectors

Under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act 1998 (CVPA), a person must not breed, keep, collect, distribute, sell, import or export any vectors without the written permission of the Director-General of Public Health. An application for the Director-General’s permission must be submitted to NEA prior to any handling of vectors in Singapore.

A non-exhaustive list of vectors, whereby such permission is required, is provided in the table below.

Application Process

The application process consists of the following stages:

• Pre-application Dossier Screening (to guide applicants in preparing the requisite information and documentation);
• Formal Application Submission – Applicant submits the complete set of documents after the pre-application dossier screening
• Review of Application - Technical Review (to assess the adequacy of the facility, practices, and equipment to ensure that the work involving vectors can be carried out safely); and
• Site inspection, where necessary.

_{Figure 1: Permission Application Process}

Applicants are to read the  Guidebook On The Application For Permission To Breed Keep Collect Distribute Sell Import Or Export Vectors before submitting the following documents to NEA_VC_Licences@nea.gov.sg:

1. Application Form Template for Permission To Breed, Keep, Collect, Distribute, Sell, Import or Export Vectors (click to download);
2. Standard Operating Procedure (Refer to Annex 2 in Guidebook);
3. Other necessary documents such as risk assessment, floor plan layout and relevant approvals. (Refer to Annex 1 in Guidebook).

Pre-application Dossier Screening

To facilitate the successful submission of permission applications, NEA provides a pre-application dossier screening service. This service guides applicants in preparing the requisite information and documentation during the dossier screening stage. Applicants are encouraged to utilise this opportunity to seek clarification on any queries pertaining to the application requirements before the application process. Once screening is completed, NEA informs applicant to submit a formal application.

Please write to NEA_VC_Licences@nea.gov.sg for pre-application dossier screening and submission of a formal application.

Formal Application Submission and Technical Review

A formal application is submitted only after the dossier is screened and verified to be completed. A technical review is then conducted to assess the adequacy of the facility, practices, and equipment to ensure that the work involving vectors can be carried out safely. Additional information and/or clarifications may be required upon evaluation. NEA may conduct an inspection of the premises within three weeks after receiving the complete submission of the required documents.

Outcome

A complete review of the application with all the required supporting documents typically takes approximately 30 days to be processed and closed. NEA will inform the applicant on the outcome via the contact email provided.  

Types of Applications

New Application

An application for permission is required for each unique facility. A new permission issued is valid for a maximum of three years.

Renewal of Permission

A permission can only be renewed if it is an extension of existing permission involving the same vector species, types of use (breed, keep, collect, distribute, sell, import and/or export) and purposes, with no significant change to the SOP and floorplan layout. Each successful renewal will extend the permission by a maximum of three years.