Industries / Restaurant & F&B
Restaurant & F&B Insurance in Singapore
Singapore F&B operators carry public exposure (diners on the premises), staff exposure (kitchen injuries), property exposure (fire, equipment) and product exposure (food-borne illness). Landlords and NEA licensing conditions also dictate minimum cover, so several of these are effectively required even where no Act of Parliament demands them.
Essential cover
Third-party injury and property damage on your premises — commonly required by the landlord and by NEA F&B licence conditions, typically S$1m–S$5m.
Mandatory under the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019 for all manual employees and non-manual staff earning at or below the salary threshold — kitchens are a high-injury environment.
Cooking and electrical loads make fire a leading F&B loss; landlords usually require the tenant to insure fixtures, fit-out and contents.
Commonly added
Liability arising from food-borne illness or contamination — often bundled with public liability as a general-liability form.
Replaces lost gross profit while you cannot trade after an insured fire or flood — critical when a single outlet is your whole revenue.
If you employ Work Permit / S Pass kitchen or service staff, MOM requires the prescribed foreign worker medical insurance.
What is statutory vs contractual
Work injury compensation (WICA) and, for foreign Work Permit / S Pass staff, MOM foreign worker medical insurance are statutory. Public liability and fire/contents cover are usually required by the landlord and by NEA licence conditions rather than by statute.
For indicative premium ranges by cover, see the business insurance cost guide, or browse every cover on the business insurance hub.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a restaurant need in Singapore?
At minimum, work injury compensation (statutory for eligible staff), public liability (required by most landlords and NEA F&B licences), and fire/contents cover for your fit-out and equipment. Most operators add food product liability and business interruption, and foreign worker medical insurance where they employ Work Permit or S Pass staff.
Is public liability insurance compulsory for F&B in Singapore?
It is not compulsory under statute, but it is routinely required as a condition of the tenancy and of NEA F&B licensing, so in practice most operators must carry it. Limits of S$1m to S$5m are common.
Does restaurant insurance cover food poisoning claims?
Claims for food-borne illness fall under product liability, which is often combined with public liability in a general-liability policy but may carry a separate limit and exclusions. Check the product liability section and its sub-limit.