1. Effective Date & Regulating Authority
Enforced officially starting 1 July 2026, regulated by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA).
Exemptions for personal online shopping imports are revoked. This regulation applies to bulk commercial imports as well as personal parcel consolidation shipments, with no distinction between commercial and personal use.
2. Six product categories mandatorily requiring COR
Cargo will be detained or returned by Singapore Customs and denied customs clearance without a COR (Certificate of Registration for energy efficiency).
- Room air conditioners
- Refrigerators & freezers
- Clothes dryers
- Television sets
- Electric water heaters
- Three-phase induction motors
3. Penalties for non-compliance
- Goods: Directly detained by customs or forced to be shipped back, unable to complete clearance and pickup.
- Fines: A maximum fine of 10,000 Singapore Dollars for each non-compliant import consignment.
- Market ban: Unregistered products are prohibited from being listed, advertised or sold on e-commerce platforms (Lazada, Shopee) and offline physical stores in Singapore.
4. Core rules for COR registration
- Applicant: Overseas exporters, freight forwarders or local Singapore importers may submit online applications.
- Processing lead time: Around 7 working days upon complete document submission.
- Certificate validity: 3 years. Registration and renewal upon expiry are free of charge.
- Prerequisite: Products must comply with Singapore’s MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) and provide official energy efficiency test reports before registration.
- Labelling requirement: Approved products must be affixed with the mandatory Singapore MELS energy efficiency label.
5. Key distinction: COR vs SAFETY Mark
表格
| Certification | Issuing Body | Control Scope | Applicable Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR | NEA | Energy consumption & efficiency | Mandatory for customs clearance of the above 6 electrical items |
| SAFETY Mark | CPSO (Consumer Product Safety Office) | Electrical product safety | Mandatory for sales of 33 types of regulated electrical goods including fans, power strips, rice cookers and lighting fixtures |
Full compliance requires both COR energy registration AND SAFETY Mark safety certification.
6. Tips for freight forwarders & shippers to avoid shipment issues
- Confirm the valid COR registration number for the exact product model with suppliers before shipment, and verify authenticity via the official NEA website.
- Declare product models and COR documents in advance for sea LCL consolidation shipments; otherwise containers will be held upon arrival with hefty port detention fees.
- Second-hand or refurbished appliances are generally not subject to this rule, but will face inspection and penalties if declared as brand-new goods.
- If goods are already dispatched without COR registration, the only solution is to arrange return shipment to origin; no certification can be issued locally in Singapore for clearance purposes.
7. Simplified application procedure
Prepare energy efficiency test reports → Submit model registration via NEA official portal → Obtain COR certificate after approval → Affix mandatory energy labels → Arrange export and customs declaration.
