/akn/sg/act/sub_leg/2019/RSA-S127-2026

Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026

The full official text, structured for quick navigation. Copy any provision or jump straight to a section.

Type: Subsidiary Legislation
Status: In force
Enacted: 2019
Sections: 10

Quick answer

About this subsidiary legislation

Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 is Singapore Subsidiary Legislation, cited as Subsidiary Legislation RSA-S127-2026 2019, currently marked in force and first recorded in 2019.

Regulation 1

Citation and commencement

This Order is the Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 and comes into operation on 1 April 2026.

Regulation 2

Definitions

Subregulation 1

In this Order, “large supermarket licence” and “supermarket premises” have the meanings given by regulation 12(9) of the Resource Sustainability (Beverage Container Return Scheme) Regulations 2026 (G.N. No. S 123/2026).

Subregulation 2

Any term in this Order that is defined in section 23M(1) of the Act has the meaning given to that term in that section.

Subregulation 3

For the purposes of this Order —

(a)

a person is the producer of a beverage product if the person is a person described in section 23M(2) of the Act; and

(b)

a person is not a producer of a beverage product if the person is a person described in section 23M(3) of the Act.

Regulation 3

Exemption in relation to certain beverage products and associated beverage containers

Subregulation 1

A person is exempt from sections 23O, 23P, 23Q, 23R, 23V and 23W of the Act in relation to any of the following beverage products:

(a)

any beverage product that is solely supplied or offered to be supplied to hospitals, hospices and other residential care facilities like nursing homes for the purpose of providing services to patients in those facilities;

(b)

any beverage product that contains a beverage that —

(i)

is supplied or offered to be supplied at a retail food establishment, at which the beverage is prepared by hand; or

(ii)

is supplied or offered to be supplied online and the beverage is prepared by hand at a retail food establishment from which it is collected by or on behalf of the customer;

(c)

any beverage product that contains a beverage that is prepared by hand for the purpose of a non‑retail food business carried on by a person (A), that is solely distributed for sale at one or more of the following:

(i)

a retail food establishment operated or used by A or A’s related party;

(ii)

a retail food establishment that A or A’s related party knowingly permits to be used as such;

(d)

any beverage product that is supplied or offered to be supplied from an automated beverage dispenser where the beverage container containing the beverage is only sealed by the automated beverage dispenser upon selection of the beverage product from the automated beverage dispenser.

Subregulation 2

A person is exempt from sections 23P, 23U, 23V and 23W in relation to any beverage container used for any beverage product mentioned in paragraph (1).

Subregulation 3

A scheme licensee is exempt from operating the scheme in relation to any beverage container used for any beverage product mentioned in paragraph (1).

Subregulation 4

In this paragraph —

Definition

“automated beverage dispenser” means a machine that dispenses a non‑prepacked beverage;

Definition

“franchise” has the meaning given by section 19(1) of the Act;

Definition

“non‑retail food business” —

(a)

before the date of commencement of section 395 of the Food Safety and Security Act 2025 — has the meaning given by section 2F of the Sale of Food Act 1973; and

(b)

on or after the date of commencement of section 395 of the Food Safety and Security Act 2025 — has the meaning given by section 3(1) of the Food Safety and Security Act 2025;

Definition

“prepacked” means packed or made up in advance ready for sale in a container;

Definition

“retail food establishment” means any establishment (which may include a person’s ordinary place of residence in Singapore) where food or drinks, or both, are sold wholly by retail (whether or not the food or drinks, or both, are also prepared, stored or packed for sale or consumed at the establishment).

Subregulation 5

For the purpose of this paragraph, a person (B) is a related party of another person (C) if —

(a)

B is a corporation that is deemed to be related to C under section 6 of the Companies Act 1967; or

(b)

B and C are parties to a franchise.

Subregulation 6

To avoid doubt, a “beverage that is prepared by hand” includes —

(a)

a beverage that a person pours out from the container in which the beverage was originally packed and repacks into a different container;

(b)

a beverage that is prepared with the assistance of a machine that is manually activated or operated by a person; and

(c)

a beverage that is dispensed from a machine that is manually activated by a person.

Regulation 4

Exemption in relation to pouches and beverage products in pouches

Subregulation 1

A person is exempt from sections 23O, 23P, 23Q, 23R, 23V and 23W of the Act in relation to any beverage product that is a regulated beverage in a sealed pouch.

Subregulation 2

A person is exempt from sections 23P, 23U, 23V and 23W in relation to any pouch.

Subregulation 3

A scheme licensee is exempt from operating the scheme in relation to any pouch.

Subregulation 4

In this paragraph, “pouch” means any beverage container whose shape is likely to change after the contents are added or removed.

Regulation 5

Exemption in relation to beverage containers unsuitable for return through specified reverse vending machines and associated beverage products

Subregulation 1

A person is exempt from sections 23P, 23Q and 23R of the Act in relation to any beverage product that is a regulated beverage in a sealed RVM unsuitable container.

Subregulation 2

A person is exempt from sections 23P and 23U in relation to any RVM unsuitable container.

Subregulation 3

A scheme licensee is exempt from operating the scheme in relation to any RVM unsuitable container.

Subregulation 4

The exemptions in sub‑paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) are subject to the condition that the producer of a beverage product mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1) first submits to the Agency any information and documents that the Agency requires as evidence of the fact that the RVM unsuitable container (used for that beverage product) is unsuitable for return through a specified reverse vending machine.

Subregulation 5

In this paragraph —

Definition

“cross-sectional length at its widest”, in relation to a beverage container, means the straight‑line distance measured between the 2 most distant points on the outer surface of the container, on its largest cross‑sectional area;

Definition

“empty and in its original form”, in relation to a beverage container, means a beverage container that —

(a)

is not filled with any beverage; and

(b)

is in the condition in which it was manufactured and has not been crushed or otherwise subjected to mechanical force that alters its original volume or shape;

Definition

“RVM unsuitable container” means any beverage container that is unsuitable for return through a specified reverse vending machine for any reason, including but not limited to any of the following:

(a)

when empty and in its original form, the beverage container has any of the following dimensions:

(i)

in the case where the container is cylindrical —

(A)

a diameter of less than 5 centimetres or more than 12.5 centimetres; or

(B)

a height of less than 7.5 centimetres or more than 35 centimetres;

(ii)

in all other cases —

(A)

a cross-sectional length at its widest of more than 12.5 centimetres; or

(B)

a height of less than 7.5 centimetres or more than 35 centimetres;

(b)

the beverage container has attached to it any strap, cord, or other similar thing made of a non‑rigid material;

Definition

“specified reverse vending machine” means a reverse vending machine that complies with specifications issued by a scheme licensee and published on a website operated and maintained by the scheme licensee.

Regulation 6

Exemption from section 23Q of Act in relation to beverage products for dine‑in consumption

Subregulation 1

Any holder of a Part 4 EPHA licence is exempt from collecting a deposit under section 23Q of the Act in relation to any beverage product that —

(a)

the holder supplies to another person at the place or premises or part thereof for which the holder holds the licence (called in this paragraph the licensed premises); and

(b)

is for dine-in consumption.

Subregulation 2

For the purposes of sub‑paragraph (1)(b), a beverage product is for dine-in consumption if —

(a)

the beverage product is for use or consumption —

(i)

at the licensed premises; or

(ii)

at any tables, counters, chairs, benches or like facilities located near the licensed premises that are designed or adapted for the consumption of food supplied at the licensed premises or any group of licensed premises that includes the licensed premises; and

(b)

the beverage product is not for takeaway or delivery.

Subregulation 3

The exemption in sub‑paragraph (1) is subject to the condition that the holder must implement one or more of the following measures to facilitate the collection of any beverage container that is used for any beverage product supplied in the circumstances mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1):

(a)

retrieving such beverage container from any customer (including after it is left behind by any customer) from any place mentioned in sub‑paragraph (2)(a);

(b)

providing or ensuring the provision of a means (including a place or facility, whether shared or otherwise) for a customer to return such beverage container to the holder —

(i)

within the licensed premises; or

(ii)

no more than 5 metres’ walking distance from any boundary of the licensed premises.

Subregulation 4

In this paragraph, “Part 4 EPHA licence” means any licence granted under Part 4 of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 for any matter specified in the first column of Part 1 of the Schedule to the Environmental Public Health (Part IV Fees) Regulations 2019 (G.N. No. S 275/2019).

Regulation 7

Exemption from section 23Q of Act in relation to beverage products for use or consumption in hotel rooms, etc.

Subregulation 1

Any operator (D) of a hotel is exempt from collecting a deposit under section 23Q of the Act in relation to any beverage product that D supplies to any person (E) in any of the following circumstances:

(a)

any beverage product that D supplies to E upon request by E, for use or consumption within a hotel room occupied by E, through what is commonly known as an in‑room dining service;

(b)

any beverage product that D pre‑stocks in a hotel room occupied by E, for use or consumption by E, whether or not E is charged for such use or consumption;

(c)

any beverage product that D supplies to E for use or consumption within a hotel function area.

Subregulation 2

The exemption in sub‑paragraph (1) is subject to the condition that D must implement one or more of the following measures to facilitate the collection of any beverage container that is used for any beverage product supplied in the circumstances mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1):

(a)

retrieving such beverage container from E (including after it is left behind by E) from any place mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1);

(b)

providing or ensuring the provision of a means (including a place or facility, whether shared or otherwise) for E to return such beverage container to D —

(i)

within the hotel; or

(ii)

no more than 5 metres’ walking distance from any boundary of the hotel.

Subregulation 3

In this paragraph —

Definition

“hotel” means any premises registered as a hotel under section 5 of the Hotels Act 1954;

Definition

“hotel function area” means any premises or part of the premises within a hotel that are used or intended to be used for holding any event such as a meeting, a conference, a seminar, a course, a workshop, an exhibition, a corporate retreat, any corporate training, a wedding or a banquet, or for the purpose of serving meals;

Definition

“hotel room” means any guest room, suite or dormitory space in a hotel;

Definition

“operator”, in relation to a hotel, means the person responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of the hotel, being —

(a)

an individual, if so responsible as a sole proprietor; or

(b)

any body of persons, corporate or unincorporate.

Regulation 8

Exemption from section 23S of Act in relation to supermarket premises with eating establishment

Subregulation 1

A holder of a large supermarket licence for any supermarket premises is exempt from operating a return point at the supermarket premises under section 23S(1) of the Act if —

(a)

part of the supermarket premises is used for a business involving the sale, preparation or serving, of food for dine‑in consumption; and

(b)

the floor area used for the business mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) exceeds the floor area of the remaining supermarket premises.

Subregulation 2

For the purposes of sub‑paragraph (1)(a), food is for dine‑in consumption if —

(a)

the food is for use or consumption within the part of the supermarket premises mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1)(a); and

(b)

the food is not for takeaway or delivery.

Subregulation 3

The exemption in sub‑paragraph (1) is subject to the condition that the holder first submits to the Agency any information and documents that the Agency requires as evidence of the fact that the floor area used for the business mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1)(a) exceeds the floor area of the remaining supermarket premises.

Regulation 9

Exemption from section 23S of Act in relation to non‑public supermarket premises

Subregulation 1

A holder of a large supermarket licence for any supermarket premises is exempt from operating a return point at the supermarket premises under section 23S(1) of the Act if the supermarket premises are not open to the public.

Subregulation 2

Regulation 10

Revocation

Revoke the Resource Sustainability (Exemptions from Part 4B) Order 2024 (G.N. No. S 581/2024).

Common questions

What is Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026?: Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 is Singapore Subsidiary Legislation, cited as Subsidiary Legislation RSA-S127-2026 2019, currently marked in force and first recorded in 2019.
Is Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 still in force?: Yes — Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 is currently in force.
When did Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 take effect?: Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 was first recorded in 2019.
How many regulations does Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 have?: Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 contains 10 regulations.
Where can I read the official version of Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026?: The official text of Resource Sustainability (Exemptions — Beverage Container Return Scheme) Order 2026 is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.