Insect products that are found to be non-compliant with the Singapore Food Agency's standards will not be allowed for sale. (Photo: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg)

The insects include various species of crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, locusts and silkworms. The nod comes after delays in granting approval for insect-based food by SFA.

Ahead of the approval, some restaurants and bars in Singapore have started preparing a range of dishes with insects among the ingredients.

They include sustainable gastrobar Fura, which has insect-based food and drink items listed on its menu as “coming soon”. Similarly, local Chinese restaurant chain House of Seafood also said it intends to roll out 30 dishes featuring insects at its Punggol outlet once SFA gives the green light.

SFA guidelines mandate that imported or locally farmed insects must adhere to strict food safety controls, ensuring they are not harvested from the wild.