A Guide to

in Singapore
The definition
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, “Organic agriculture is an
agricultual system that promotes environmentally sound production of food, fibre, timber, etc. In this system,
soil fertility is seen as the key to successful production. Working with the natural properties of plants,
animals, and the landscape, organic farmers aim to optimise quality in all aspects of agriculture and the
environment.”

The European Commission’s guide to organic farming (http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/organic-

farming/what-organic_en) is instructive in providing us with some typical organic farming practices. But there
is considerable debate on whether a stricter or broader definition of organic products is needed.

Organic farming is commonly defined as a form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure,
compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests,
excluding or strictly limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators,
livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms.

o Wide crop rotation as a prerequisite for an efficient use of on-site resources

o Very strict limits on chemical synthetic pesticide and synthetic fertiliser use, livestock antibiotics,
food additives and processing aids and other inputs
o Absolute prohibition of the use of genetically modified organisms
o Taking advantage of on-site resources, such as livestock manure for fertiliser or feed produced on
the farm
o Choosing plant and animal species that are resistant to disease and adapted to local conditions
o Raising livestock in free-range, open-air systems and providing them with organic feed
o Using animal husbandry practices appropriate to different livestock species
A few reasons why you should go organic
(Source: The Ethics of What We Eat, Peter Singer & Jim Mason, 2006.)

o Health: organic products avoid the heavy pesticide and herbicide use typical of conventional farming:
organic farmers are permitted to use only a very limited range of insecticides, selected because they are
natural products or their safety is well-established.
o Maintains the quality of the soil: organic farmers enrich the soil by adding organic matter. That
increases the number of worms and micro-organisms. Soil rich in organic matter needs less irrigation
because the soil holds moisture better. It is also less likely to blow away in the wind, or wash off with
every storm.
o Fosters biodiversity: rare plants are indiscriminately sprayed with herbicides, along with more common
weeds.
o Reduces pollution from nitrogen run-off: the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is caused by too much
nitrogen, which makes its way into rivers, affecting both freshwater and marine environments.
o Saves energy compared to conventional farms: organic farms do not use synthetic fertilizers, the
manufacture of which requires a lot of energy.
o Offsets carbon-dioxide emissions: organic farming increases the amount of organic matter in the soil
– matter that would otherwise rot above ground and produce carbon that would go into the atmosphere.
The various organic schemes
Scheme Description
BDIH
o BDIH refers to the Federation of German Industries and Trading Firms which
regulates organic products
o Certified products have a blue label that red “Certified Natural Cosmetic –
BDIH”

ECOCERT
o A European-based organic certification organisation that conducts inspection
in over 80 countries
o Certified products come with a red ECOCERT label

National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA)

o A non-profit group set up in 1986 recognised as Australia’s leading organic
certifier.
o Cetified products come with a green NASSA label

Soil Association
o A British-based environmental charity that enforces certification of organic
food and farming.
o Over 70 per cent of organic products in Britain are certified by the Soil
Association.

United States Department of Agriculture

o Classifies organic products under 3 categories
o “100 per cent organic” products are made entirely of organic ingredients.
o “Organic” products contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients.
o “Made with organic ingredients” products contain at least 70 per cent organic
ingredients.

Networks

Although Singapore is not represented at the International

Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (www.ifoam.org),
Organic SG (groups.yahoo.com/group/OrganicSG/) is a volunteer-
run network for organic farmers, organic shops and consumers of
organic produce to share and learn about the organic scene in
Singapore. Participation in this network is free of charge.
Where you can buy organic

Supermarkets with dedicated organic sections

NTUC FairPrice http://www.fairprice.com.sg/ Hypermarkets in Ang Mo Kio and
Hougang Point, NTUC Finest stores
in Bukit Timah Plaza and Thomson
Plaza
Carrefour http://www.carrefour.com.sg/ Carrefour Suntec City
Cold Storage – Naturally http://www.coldstorage.com.sg/ VivoCity, #01-23B
Marketplace

Organic Farms
Bollywood Veggies www.bollywoodveggies.com 100 Neo Tiew Road
Fire Flies Health Farm www.fireflies.sg Lot 75, Lim Chu Kang Lane 2
Go Organic Farm http://www.goorganic.com.sg/
Green Valley Farm - 1 Bah Soon Pah Rd Singapore
769959
Greencircle Eco Farm www.greencicle.com.sg 41 Neo Tiew Road
Kampung Senang Charity www.kg-senang.org.sg Tampines Block 840, Street 82, #01-
and Education Foundation 111
Quan Fa Organic Farm http://www.quanfa.com.sg 20 Lorong Serambi (off Lim Chu Kang
Road)

Cafes & Restaurants serving organic food

12 x 12 Café Suntec City
Cedele by Bakery Depot www.cedeledepot.com CBD: Chevron House, Golden Shoe
Carpark, One Raffles Quay North
Tower, Millenia Walk, 8 Shenton Way
Central: Raffles City Shopping Centre
#B1, Novena Square, Tanglin Mall,
VivoCity, Jelita
East: Frankel Avenue, Parkway
Parade
West: Nordic European Centre
ALL-DAY DINING Great World City,
Wheelock Place, Raffles City #03-28A
Genesis Vegetarian Health www.genesishealthfood.blogspot. 1 Lorong Telok, S'pore 049014
Food Restaurant com
Green Room, The www.asmaraspas.com Bishan Park II, 1382 Ang Mo Kio
Avenue 1
Living Green - 325 Beach Road
OrganiCafeXperience www.organicafexperience.com Orchard Building, Velocity, Century
Square, Central Kitchen
Create Healthy Lifestyle 190 Middle Road, #02-17 Fortune
Centre
Green Pasture Health Food 190 Middle Road, #04-22 Fortune
Trading Centre
Vegsenz 2 Serangoon Road #01-24, The
Verge, S. 218227
Stores selling selected Clothing made from Organic Cotton
After Organic www.afterorganic.com
Banana Republic Green Paragon #02-04
Collection
Belle & Dean www.belleanddean.com 27A Lorong Mambong,
02-05, Stamford House
BGO Singapore http://www.biggrinorganics.com/ www.bgo.com.sg
By The Sea www.bythesea-organic.com
Coosh Life http://www.cooshlife.com/index.sh
tml
Greenberry Loft 177 River Walley Road, Liang Court,
#03-09
Levi's #01-32 Raffles City
Kyrie International
Marks & Spencer #02-50, The Centrepoint
Muji's
Queen's Couture The Heeren, #04-01
Quicksilver
Timberland Ngee Ann City, Vivo City,
Centrepoint, Changi Airport T1,
Suntec City, Takashimaya, Parkway
Parade, Isetan Scotts, Isetan
Tampines, Paragon, OG Albert
Complex

Selected Organic Cosmetics / Bodycare

Adara Coconut Virgin Oil Yogi House, #02-06, Fu Lu Shou
Complex
Balm Balm Apothecary+Co, Raffles City B1-21
Billie Goat Soap Purely Botanic
Botanic Source Noel Building, #05-02
Bud Cosmetics http://www.budcosmetics.com 10 Sinaran Drive , #01-66 Square 2
(above Noverna MRT)
Eminence Botanic Source, Oriental Spa
(Mandarin Hotel Level 5)
Jurlique Tangs Orchard, Tangs VivoCity, OG
People's Park
Kanga Organics www.kangaorganics.com P.O. Box 543, Serangoon Central,
Singapore 915502
Lavera Naturkosmetrik Raffles City Watsons, Parkway
Parade B1-14, Ngee Ann City, #B2-
06
Medtra
Origins Isetan Scotts, Metro Paragon,
Robinsons The Centrepoint, Raffles
City, Tangs VivoCity
PhytoOrganics Raffles City Shopping Centre, B1-74
Purely Organic Square 2, Novena Square
Wilde Wood Purely Botanic

Food Importer / Retailer

Ban Choon Marketing http://www.banchoon.com.sg/gen
eral/Products.aspx#organic
Bright Morning Star Agency www.bmsagency.com.sg
Brown Rice Paradise www.mybrp.com.sg
Biogenic International http://www.biogenicinternational.c
om/
Bunalun www.bunalun.com
30 Quality Road
51 Bukit Batok Crescent, #07-46,
Unity Centre
163 Tanglin Road, 03-15 Tanglin Mall
147B Telok Ayer Street
43 Jalan Merah Saga, 01-70, Chip
Bee Gardens

391 Orchard Road, B2-01-3A, Ngee

Ann City
Camu Camu Nature House Block 211, Hougng Street 21, 01-307
Canmark Supermarket Blk 166, Bukit Batok West Ave 8, 01-
256/258
Choice Organic www.choiceorganic.com.sg Lorong Mambong, 01-35, Holland
Village Market
Chuan Soon Organic Blk 104, Yishun Ring Road, 01-13
Country Farm Organic Mart 10 Kung Chong Road
Create Healthy Lifestyle Fortune Centre, Middle Road
Decopon
Eat Organic www.eat-organic.com.sg 619H Bukit Timah Road
Essential Living www.essliv.com 18 Carpenter Street, #03-18B
Fave: The Dried Fruits & www.fave.com.sg 16 New Industrial Road, 01-02,
Nuts People Hudson TechnoCentre
Four Seasons Organic B2-07 Great World City, Kim Seng
Market Promenade
Go Organic International http://www.goorganic.com.sg/inde Turf City, 200 Turf Club Road
x.htm
Health Chapter http://HealthChapter.googlepages
.com
Kang Bao Lek Veg Centre Blk 406, Tampines Street 41, 01-25
L'Organic http://www.lorganic.sg/ Blk 18, Unit A, Dempsey Road and
East Coast Park Farmer's Market on
weekends
Li Xiang Market Bedok South, 01-157/519
Love For Earth www.loveforearth.com/ 11 Holland Road Shopping Centre
Nature's Glory www.natures-glory.com 315 Outram Road, 11-03 Tan Boon
Liat Building
Nature Zone Blk 1, #02-06, Tanjong Pagar Plaza
NutriHub The Organic Cuppage Plaza
Fusion Café
Oasis Organic 100 Beach Road, 01-49, Shaw
Towers
Organic 4 Less Trading Blk 194 Pandan Loop, 07-11, Pantech
Organic Garden Woodlands
Organic Himalayan
Organic Living Hub Blk 78, Redhill Lane, 01-17
Organic Paradise www.organic-paradise.com.sg 5 Koek Road, #01-25/27, Cuppage
Plaza
62 Temple Street, #01-01
Organic Story Blk 263, Serangoon Central Drive, 01-
77
Piore
Blk 3, Queen's Road, #02-163
Sensible Choices www.sensiblechoicesgroup.com 32 Maxwell Road, #03-07
Sharon Organics Blk 320, 01-39, Shunfu Market
Sky Organic http://www.skyorganic.com/ 101 Upper Cross Street, 03-78A
Spring Organics 511 Guillemard Road, 03-10,
Grandlink Square
Sunny Choice 434 Upper Bukit Timah, Railway Mall
Supernature www.supernature.com.sg 21 Orchard Boulevard, 01-21/27, Park
House
Supreme Organic Blk 44 Owen Road, #01-307
Taste Original Blk 721, Clementi West, 01-122
Teng Yang Veg & Organic Blk 70, Toa Payoh Lorong 4
The Sukha House http://www.sukhahouse.com/shop 705 Sims Drive, #06-04B, Shun Li
/ Industrial Complex, Singapore
387384
Totally Nature http://www.totallynature.com.sg/
Unitednature (Far East) Pte www.unitednature.com.sg, 362 Upper Paya Lebar Road, 05-09,
Ltd www.iorganic.tv Da Jin Factory Building
Wholesome Living www.wholeseomliving-sg.com Blk 416, Pandan Gardens, #01-130
Yes Natural www.yesnatural.biz 55 Lorong 27 Geylang
Yising Trading Blk 79, 01-121, Redhill Lane
Yong Xu Organic Blk 921 Yishun Central 1, 01-257
Enterprise
Zenxin Agri-Organic Food Blk 14, 01-25, Pasir Panjang
Wholesale Centre