Healthier Choice Symbol Development Scheme

Who qualifies

• Organisation types: Sole proprietorship; General partnership; Private limited company (Pte Ltd).
• Must be registered in Singapore.
• The applicant must be a business entity registered with ACRA as a sole-proprietorship, partnership or company and physically present in Singapore.
• The applicant must be a food ingredient importer or manufacturer that imports qualifying ingredients into Singapore for HCS certification, or manufactures them in Singapore.
• The applicant must supply the developed healthier ingredients directly or indirectly to qualifying F&B outlets and/or retailers in Singapore.
• Ingredient products must be reformulated to meet the HCS nutrient guidelines for an eligible category by the end of the qualifying period.
• Separate applications are required for each different qualifying ingredient category; more than one product within the same category may be included in a single application, and each product is assessed independently.
• Each supplier may have only 1 HCS Development Project per qualifying ingredient category running at a time.
• Beverages (sweetened drinks) are not eligible with effect from 30 December 2023.
• HPB must be informed of any change in the sole proprietor, partners or shareholding for the entire qualifying period.
• The approved project must be completed by the end of the two-year qualifying period.
• Funding does not cover activities outside the two-year qualifying period, sales or export outside Singapore, sales to related companies, activities receiving other government funding, GST/taxes/levies, or late payment charges.
• The grant is taxable and ineligible for tax exemption.
• Minimum operating years: 3.

What it funds

• R&D, product development, prototyping, IP
• Meeting regulatory, licensing or standards requirements

Costs covered: Hardware, machinery, IT equipment; Third-party consultant or professional service fees; Audit, testing, certification, standards fees; Physical materials and consumables consumed by the funded project (e.g. construction materials, prototypes).

Maximum support: up to 80%.

HPB funds up to 80% of total qualifying project investment and the participant co-pays the remaining 20%. On claim, HPB reimburses 80% of Actual Qualifying Investments if the Outcome KPI is met, or 64% if it is not.

Recorded cap: S$200,000.

Overall cap of S$200,000 for the Product Development, Packaging and Certification category for each qualifying ingredient category, usable over the two-year qualifying period.

Payment: Paid after the company incurs the cost and files a claim.

How to apply

Download the HDS application package, email a draft application and supporting documents to HPB_HIDS@hpb.gov.sg about 2.5 months before the desired quarterly cycle, work with an HIDS officer to refine the proposal, then email the finalised application (softcopy in Microsoft format, not PDF) at least 1.5 months before the cycle starts. If approved, sign and return the Grant Award Letter within 14 days and start the project from the commencement date stated in it.

1. Submit a draft application by email to HPB_HIDS@hpb.gov.sg at least 2.5 months before the approval cycle commences (by 15 Jan, 15 Apr, 15 Jul or 15 Oct).
2. Work with the HIDS officer to discuss and improve the proposal.
3. Submit the finalised application form and all supporting documents at least 1.5 months before the approval cycle (by 15 Feb, 15 May, 15 Aug or 15 Nov).
4. Receive approval by email and sign and return the Grant Award Letter within 14 days of its date.
5. Commence the approved activities from the commencement date in the Grant Award Letter, at the start of the quarter.

Before applying

• The product must fall within an eligible HDS ingredient category and meet the applicable HCS nutrient guidelines.
• A separate application must be made for each qualifying ingredient category.
• The applicant must have been in business for at least 3 years.

Documents

• Application Form — Part of the HDS application package. All applications must be typewritten and submitted in softcopy Microsoft format, not PDF; incomplete applications are rejected. Agency document ↗
• Proposal — Must state Activity KPIs and Outcome KPIs; submitted with the application form. Agency document ↗
• Relevant supporting documents — Submitted in softcopy with the application form; missing documents cause rejection.
• HDS Information Package (if applicable) — Reference document HPB asks applicants to read before applying. Agency document ↗

Processing time: HPB completes the award before the quarterly approval cycle begins; approval is communicated by email

Claiming support

The grant is disbursed on a reimbursement basis against achievement of the approved Activity and Outcome KPIs. Disbursements are made on a 6-month reimbursement basis on application by the scheme participant; the full claim document set must be submitted in softcopy within 2 months from the end of the claim period, and HPB disburses within 3 months of receiving a complete and error-free set. Quarterly progress reports must be submitted 1 month after the end of each quarter.

The last claim must be submitted no later than 2 months after the end of the 2-year qualifying period; each claim's documents are due within 2 months from the end of the claim period

Contact: HPB_HIDS@hpb.gov.sg for applications; HPB_Healthy_Eating@hpb.gov.sg for general enquiries

Application window: HDS runs on quarterly project cycles starting 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. Draft applications are due about 2.5 months before a cycle (by 15 Jan, 15 Apr, 15 Jul, 15 Oct) and final applications 1.5 months before (by 15 Feb, 15 May, 15 Aug, 15 Nov).