Grace Fu Hai Yien
Singapore
“The Government takes a multi-pronged approach to address the disamenities from second-hand tobacco smoke. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Government agencies, Town Councils and community leaders to promote considerate behaviour and strengthen social norms.”
“The Government recently announced land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang to optimise our scarce land to meet our growing and evolving needs. We are at the initial planning stage and agencies are still working out the detailed development proposals.”
“Public Waste Collectors and Town Councils have trialled the collection and treatment of segregated food waste from households. However, participation rates are poor despite regular engagement and reminders.”
“The quality of incense offerings and the practice of burning incense are not regulated by law. Instead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) works with stakeholders, such as Town Councils, agencies and religious organisations, to encourage responsible burning of joss paper and incense.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors public cleaning contractors through regular physical audits and remote monitoring, complemented by video analytics. NEA also regularly assesses the cleaning quality and outcomes of public cleaning contractors.”
“This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s combined answer to Question Nos 15 to 18 on the Order Paper for 7 July 2026. [Please refer to "National Recycling Rates, Plans and Targets", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
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“We currently have no plans to ban the use of Styrofoam packaging for food takeaways. Styrofoam packaging is of concern in countries where waste is sent directly to landfill, as it is non-biodegradable and remains in the landfill for a long time. In Singapore, all incinerable waste, including Styrofoam packaging, is incinerated safely at waste-to-energy incineration plants fitted with pollution control equipment. Reusables remain the more environmentally friendly option. We encourage the public to use reusables for food takeaways and avoid excessive consumption of all disposables, including Styrofoam.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to address Mr Gerald Giam's first question on crewmen. Indeed, I think that there is a hypothesis that the cluster may have come through or punched through a fisherman on a fishery boat. That hypothesis actually has not been confirmed at this point in time, but we are not waiting for that. We are looking at how to strengthen the SMMs at the border. We have already started contactless delivery since April. That is along with the strengthened, heightened SMMs at the PPWC. We have instituted that also for Senoko and Jurong Fishery Ports. But with regard to the question about whether we should subject them to vaccinations or Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs), that is something that we are considering at this point in time. Whatever we do, I think we are looking for practical solutions where we can do it without increasing the risks. The crewmen right now, they are actually contactless, in other words, they are not allowed to land, they will stay on the vessel and they will use the vessel equipment to move their buckets of fish onto the shore and our shore workers will take over. We actually do not allow them to land on our shore. If we subject them to frequent tests, that may be a way for them to actually be landing more frequently on our shore. So, we have to evaluate these options and look for practical and effective solutions.”
“Mandatory SafeEntry check-in will be implemented at all markets and hawker centres managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators to facilitate more effective contact tracing. We had previously introduced e-payments to go cashless and will encourage hawkers and patrons to use this mode of payment to minimise contact and also possibility of fomite transmission. About 90% of those working in markets and hawker centres – these include our stallholders, our hawkers as well as our cleaners at the centres – have received at least one dose of the vaccine. So, it is a very high vaccination rate, 90%. And we are calling up, encouraging those who have yet to do so to go for vaccination as soon as possible. While we will continue to ensure the cleanliness of our hawker centres through regular cleaning and disinfection, I also want to remind all patrons to adhere to SMMs and to observe personal hygiene. When dine-in resumes, patrons are reminded that they can do their part by returning their own used trays, crockery and litter to help create a cleaner dining environment.”
“Those under quarantine can also apply to MOH for financial assistance under the Quarantine Order Allowance Scheme. And as to the support for stallholders in markets and hawker centres, the Government is committed to supporting our hawkers and working with them through this difficult period. A one-off cash assistance of $500 under the Market and Hawker Centre Relief Fund will be disbursed to each stallholder of cooked food and market stalls in centres managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators in August. Stallholders need not apply for this relief. The money will be directly credited into the bank accounts of the stallholders. This is on top of a third month of rental waiver and subsidies for fees for table cleaning and dish washing services provided this year. Those under quarantine can apply for the Quarantine Order Allowance Scheme and those eligible may apply for the COVID-19 Recovery Grant COVID-19 Recovery Grant-Temporary. For hawkers that continue to face financial issues, they can also approach NEA, who will review their case and provide case-by-case support. On Ms Nadia Samdin's question about measures to improve safety at our markets and hawker centres, NEA will be putting in place tightened SMMs at all markets and hawker centres to ensure that they remain clean and safe for stallholders and patrons, bearing in mind that many of our hawker centres and markets are frequented by elderly patrons. So, we are taking extra precaution to make sure that their health and safety are protected. We will carry out Rostered Routine Testing for stallholders once every 14 days. We will facilitate the testing, such as setting up more quick testing centres, as announced by MOH and explore teaching hawkers to conduct self-testing at steady state.”
“More frequent patrols will be carried out to ensure compliance with the SMMs. We are working closely with MOH and when informed of their epidemiological investigation, we will adjust these enhanced measures if necessary, to better protect both the workers and trade visitors. SFA has audited the SMMs at SFP and PPWC. It will progressively cover all the other key food facilities. One-time PCR swab test of all workers is being carried out. We are almost at the tail end. I am very glad to report that we are not seeing big clusters in these facilities. Seven-day RRT and enhanced SMMs will be rolled out to these facilities as soon as possible. We will monitor the operation closely and take enforcement action for any non-compliance with SMMs at these facilities. An alternative site is being made available for use in the event of another closure of the fishery ports or PPWC. The Delta variant is a formidable foe. Collective responsibility is required to keep everyone safe. Next, on assistance extended to JFP and related businesses. The relevant agencies are working with companies to provide the necessary assistance during this difficult period. We have been facilitating companies to redirect supplies directly to the supermarkets' distribution centres and retail outlets so that they can continue operations despite the closure of JFP. We are also coordinating closely with the companies to ensure that their workers have been swabbed and are healthy before we resume operations at JFP next week. As announced by MOF last week, the Government will provide an additional four-week rental waiver for qualifying tenants on Government-owned commercial properties. Eligible workers and self-employed persons can apply for the COVID-19 Recovery Grant-Temporary.”
“We are not waiting for the investigations to complete because as Minister Ong has mentioned, it is important for us to act immediately to protect public health. So, on our own, our preliminary review has identified some areas for improvement. First, the humid and laborious environment made it uncomfortable for workers to wear their masks for prolonged periods of time. This meant a higher propensity for workers to adjust their masks or take them off momentarily. Second, the workers could have taken off their masks while they take their breaks, smoking breaks, for example, and socialise in close proximity. Third, JFP, being a marketplace, meant that the workers and traders mix freely throughout the facility. It is just like the market that we are used to, shoppers going around, traders going around and sometimes, between stallholders they mix as well as they move stocks from one to another. Some contactless delivery measures were not strictly followed. Finally, we are investigating the possibility of fomite transmission in JFP. We will address these areas in our SMMs, with practical solutions and enforcement before we re-open JFP. The first round of deep cleaning of JFP was done on 18 July and we will be conducting another round before it is re-opened. Common areas and crates will be regularly cleaned during its operation. SFA will work with companies to implement seven-day Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) for all workers at JFP and all workers will be encouraged to get vaccinated. Contactless delivery protocols for truck drivers and boat men will be stepped up. Trade visitors who are not on any COVID-19 testing regimes, such as RRT will be subjected to an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) before entering.”
“Our overall seafood supply situation has remained stable because of our diversified supply and distribution channels. SFA and ESG will work with industry partners to strengthen their business continuity plans. And I would also like to thank all the industry players for stepping up in this period of crisis. Next, at JFP and key food facilities. Our fishery ports, Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC), abattoir and slaughterhouses are key nodes in our food supply chain. SFA has begun working with the companies operating in these facilities to implement Safe Management Measures (SMMs) since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objectives are to protect public health by minimising the spread of the virus and to ensure business continuity. To minimise risk of infection from foreigners, contactless delivery for the truck drivers and boatmen was implemented. Controlled access to these facilities has been in place with only workers and registered trade visitors allowed to enter. So, public can no longer go there for a "look-see, look-see". Workers at these facilities have been encouraged to get vaccinated quickly. To date, 76% of workers at JFP are fully vaccinated, while 86% have received at least one dose of vaccine. Unfortunately, COVID-19 managed to breakthrough these defences, with many cases detected at JFP over the past month. The cases further spread to the markets and hawker centres through the stallholders who had visited JFP. In order to break the chains of transmission, MOH made a difficult, but necessary decision to close JFP for two weeks from 17 to 31 July with all 684 workers issued Quarantine Orders. Investigations by MOH and SFA are ongoing to determine how transmission had taken place in JFP and we have all heard from Minister for Health earlier on.”
“These arrangements include diverting supplies directly to the supermarkets' distribution centres and retail outlets. Supermarkets themselves increased their stock of fresh produce through their suppliers. They have been keeping their retail shelves well-stocked with a variety of seafood including the frozen seafood varieties. Meanwhile, SFP remains in operation. As the market seafood stalls resumed operations, some switched to SFP for their supply or sourced from alternative suppliers. We have sufficient stocks of frozen seafood. I visited the Jurong Cold Store last Wednesday which stocks supplies of frozen shrimp, sea bass and grouper among others. The cold store facility serves many wholesalers, supplying to the supermarkets and food establishments islandwide. At the same time, retail food establishments are adjusting by switching to frozen alternatives. Our local farms also produce a good variety of seafood such as sea bass, tilapia and grouper and some of them have reported many-fold increase in inquiry and orders. And they can be found online, for example, on Lazada's RedMart, FairPrice online shop and at the supermarkets as well, such as Prime and FairPrice. I encourage Singaporeans to broaden their choices of seafood and where they buy their seafood from. We have been reviewing the longer-term plans for this sector. Since 2020, SFA has been conducting studies on the enhancement of the wholesale fresh produce sector and it is working with NEA to study the wet market sector to better meet the future demands of consumers and industry. We will factor in lessons learnt from this episode to better future-proof the sector. This episode has truly tested the resilience of our supply chains.”
“Members Mr Dennis Tan12,13,14 and Ms Nadia Samdin have filed PQs on the same subject set down for a later Sitting. Several Members have also filed related PQs for a later Sitting, which I will address together. Members Yip Hon Weng15 and Mr Dennis Tan on measures taken to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 at our fishery port and key food facilities. Mr Dennis Tan on assistance given to the companies and workers at JFP, Mr Darryl David16 on support given to stallholders at markets and hawker centres. Mr Deputy Speaker, on food resilience. We have worked closely with industry partners over the years to build diversified food supply chains. This include our seafood supplies. JFP handles about 30% of our total seafood imports and is complemented by Senoko Fishery Port (SFP), which handles about 4% of seafood imports. The remaining two-thirds of our seafood imports are distributed to the industry via other routes. So, it is a very diversified distribution platform. Our seafood supply has remained stable, despite the closure of JFP and local disruptions at our markets. Following the closure of JFP on 17 July, Singaporeans were understandably worried. Some had rushed to buy seafood over that weekend. We saw an increase in footfall at supermarkets, after the market seafood stallholders were required to get tested on 18 July. They could open their stalls only after receiving a negative PCR swab test result. All JFP workers were quarantined, thus affecting the operations of many suppliers. The Phase Two (Heightened Alert) restrictions on dining in moderated the demand. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) responded quickly to facilitate distributors and supermarkets to activate alternative arrangements.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker for allowing me to address the clarifications that Ms Nadia Samdin has sought. Because of the important impact that the cluster has on this topic, I think it is important for us to give the House an account on the Jurong Fishery Port (JFP) as well as our food supply and its impact on hawker centres and markets. So, with your permission, Deputy Speaker, may I address some of the Parliamentary Questions (PQs) that Members have filed on a related subject as well?”
“NEA will be conducting trials to improve the collection of recyclables. Under the new Public Waste Collector (PWC) contract for the Ang Mo Kio-Toa Payoh sector starting in October 2021, sensors will be installed in recycling bins within the HDB estates in this sector. This will allow live monitoring of bin levels to facilitate more responsive collection and reduce bin overflow incidents. NEA will monitor the effectiveness of these recycling bin sensors and consider extending such sensors to the recycling bins in other PWC sectors, while also considering the potential impact on refuse collection fees. The locations of recycling bins in HDB estates are available on the OneMap website and OneMap mobile application. NEA requires PWCs to clear the bins on scheduled collection days and adhere to a minimum collection frequency. Should residents find their nearest recycling bin full, they can look for another recycling bin in the vicinity and provide feedback through the NEA website, or via the myENV or OneService mobile applications. We urge members of the public to follow the instructions on the labels of recycling bins to deposit only recyclable items. Non-recyclable items such as styrofoam boxes and bulky items, or reusables like clothes, toys and shoes, not only contaminate the recyclables, but also fill up the bins quickly and could lead to overflowing bins. Large carton boxes should also be flattened before being deposited into the bins.”
“In 2016, there were 110 cooked food stalls at three Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs). This increased to 274 cooked food stalls by 2018, when four more SEHCs became operational. From 2016 to 2020, there was an average of 20 terminations of tenancies and 59 new entrants per year in SEHCs. In non-SEHC centres, there was an average of 301 terminations of tenancies and 315 new entrants per year. Overall, the average occupancy rates of hawker stalls have remained high at both SEHCs and non-SEHCs, above 90%. In the first six months of 2021, we observed a lower monthly turnover of stalls in hawker centres compared to previous years.”
“The "30 by 30" goal was announced in 2019 to raise our ambition for local food production and enhance the resilience of Singapore’s food supply. This goal complements other strategies such as the diversification of our food imports, facilitating our companies to grow overseas and stockpiling of food items. The "30 by 30" goal is defined as meeting 30% of our nutritional needs locally by 2030, up from less than 10% today. Local food production plays a key role in buffering against import disruptions. We launched the 30x30 Express Grant Call last year to support our farmers to produce more hen shell eggs, food fish and leafy vegetables. These are commonly-consumed food items that our local agri-food industry has been able to produce in a resource efficient and commercially sustainable manner, and with capabilities to ramp up production quickly. These food items also have a relatively short shelf life, making stockpiling a less practical option against supply disruptions. As the local agri-tech industry is relatively nascent, we do not intend to fix the targets for each food item under the "30 by 30" goal at this stage. SFA will continue to develop our food production plans with our stakeholders, taking into consideration the productivity, resource efficiency and technologies to be deployed. While we are prioritising the production of hen shell eggs, food fish and leafy vegetables in our grants and land tenders, support is available for the production of other food items, as long as they contribute to our food security.”
“Since 17 May 2021, TraceTogether-only SafeEntry has been made mandatory at all funeral wakes, as these are higher risk venues, with people coming together for an extended period of time. NEA has worked with the funeral industry to set up SafeEntry Gateway (SEGW) boxes at funeral parlours with wake halls to facilitate SafeEntry check-in. For temporary wake spaces, such as HDB void decks and precinct pavilions, funeral service providers are equipped to provide the required SafeEntry QR code. They can also assist to set up a mobile device with the SafeEntry (Business) app and its SEGW function. The decision to engage funeral service providers for such services lies with the bereaved family.”
“SembWaste Pte Ltd is the appointed Public Waste Collector (PWC) serving the City-Punggol, Clementi-Bukit Merah, and Woodlands-Yishun sectors. In the last 12 months, 58 incidences of waste collection lapses have been logged with the NEA in these sectors and fines were issued for each of these incidences. Of the 58 incidences, nine occurred in Sengkang town.”
“The waste generated by fish farms comprise organic matter such as fish faeces, dead fish, unconsumed fish feed, as well as general refuse. As waste from fish farms are comingled and collected with other waste, data is not available on the amount of waste produced by fish farms. SFA’s licensing condition requires sea-based fish farms to bag, transport and dispose their waste on land. Waste collection points are available at the Lim Chu Kang and Lorong Halus jetties for farms located in the Western and Eastern Straits of Johor. In the Southern Waters, there is only one fish farm, which has a commercial arrangement to transport and dispose its waste on land. SFA carries out routine inspections and takes enforcement action should farms be found to illegally dump waste into the waters. SFA also sends regular reminders via newsletters and conducts briefings to fish farmers on proper waste disposal and management processes. While most of the fish farms currently do not segregate nor upcycle their waste into valuable products, there are more opportunities to do so as we transform our aquaculture industry towards sustainable fish production, in support of the "30 by 30" goal to produce 30% of our nutritional needs by 2030. For example, some fish farms are applying circular economy principles in their operations, such as up-cycling fish sludge into plant fertilisers and undertaking R&D to valorise fish sludge and other organic matter into animal feed or nutrients for fish. SFA will continue to engage the industry on adopting more sustainable farm management methods, including monitoring the impact of aquaculture activities on farming sites and the use of better feed.”
“In reviewing the regulation of noise from construction sites, NEA will take into account the increasing prevalence of people working from home, while balancing against the need to allow construction work to be completed within a reasonable duration and cost. NEA will continue looking into other means of encouraging construction companies to reduce their noise impact.”
“The number of complaints on construction noise near residential areas was stable at around 800 per month on average from 2018 to February 2020, and rose to 1,160 in March 2020 when people started working from home. From April to July 2020, fewer than 400 complaints were received per month due to the circuit breaker and before full resumption of construction work. From August 2020 to May 2021, when construction activities fully resumed but with many people still working from home, the number of complaints increased to about 1,100 per month. Investigations established that around 11% of complaints in 2021 were attributed to cases where construction sites had breached the regulatory limits. The Environmental Protection and Management (Control of Noise at Construction Sites) Regulations stipulate maximum permissible noise limits for construction sites, taking reference from the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Construction sites that are situated less than 150 metres from residential buildings and noise-sensitive premises, such as hospitals, are subject to more stringent noise limits and are not allowed to carry out work on Sundays and Public Holidays. To enforce the noise limits, noise meters are installed at the nearest residential or noise-sensitive premises from the construction site. This means construction sites located nearer to such premises have to implement more noise mitigation measures, to ensure that the noise levels experienced by residents remain within the permissible limits. The approach to managing construction noise is reviewed regularly, taking into account industry and public feedback, international best practices and our local context.”
“In terms of wastewater from hospitals, there are existing requirements for the wastewater from isolation facilities for infectious diseases to be disinfected before they are discharged into the public sewer. These are precautionary measures as the COVID-19 virus will degrade in the used water network. As an added measure, operation staff involved in used water treatment, such as those at water reclamation plants, are required to don personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and face shields to ensure that they are fully protected from direct exposure to wastewater. The quality of our water supply will not be affected as the collected wastewater undergoes a rigorous process in its journey to become NEWater. The NEWater goes through stringent treatment and disinfection processes, which remove all contaminants and ensure all bacteria and viruses are killed. To help visualise the reverse osmosis process in the NEWater production, the pores of the reverse osmosis membrane are so small that if magnified 100 million times, they will be comparable to the size of tennis balls, while the virus will be the size of a truck. Notwithstanding, further safety barriers such as UV and chlorine disinfection are incorporated downstream to ensure the safety of our NEWater supply. With these measures in place, I would like to assure Singaporeans that there is minimal risk of the COVID-19 virus transmitting through the wastewater system.”
“Stringent measures are in place in Singapore to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 through wastewater. Viral particles could enter the wastewater streams from toilets, where infected individuals could shed the virus through sputum and in their stool. Viral particles could also have been present in toilets as bioaerosols due to the expired air of infected individuals when they cough, sneeze or talk, or from the flushing of cisterns, and on surfaces touched by these individuals. NEA has been working with premises owners to disinfect premises thoroughly, including toilets where COVID-19 patients have visited to ensure that premises are safe. The sanitary systems in Singapore are also designed as "closed systems", where pipes are airtight and watertight to ensure that no foul air or pathogens can travel between households within the building. The sanitary system of each bathroom is designed with water seals which act as barriers to prevent foul air containing pathogens in the sanitary system from entering a unit’s premises. These water seals, located in toilet bowls and floor traps, are maintained by regular water flow from sinks, wash basins, showers or flushing of water cisterns. These are mandatory design requirements for sanitary systems and they apply to all toilets and bathrooms in Singapore. However, as with all well-designed systems, it requires maintenance. Home owners should be on the lookout for sewage odour and signs of localised failures within their premises such as leaks from toilet bowls or sanitary pipes. Owners should promptly get professional help through Licensed Plumbers to check and rectify any faults.”
“Since mask wearing was made mandatory in April 2020, more than 2,300 fines have been issued for failure to wear masks. Wearing of masks with good filtration capability helps to reduce the expulsion and transmission of droplets, which is the predominant route of transmission of COVID-19. Everyone should put on their masks when outside their homes, except when eating, drinking or undertaking strenuous exercise. Those walking at a normal pace are required to wear a mask. Government agencies deploy Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers daily to advise and enforce compliance with Safe Management Measures (SMMs), including wearing of masks. Agencies require business owners to ensure that patrons at their premises comply with these measures. We also reach out through various channels, including newspapers and social media, to encourage the public to observe SMMs and wear their masks so as to keep Singapore safe.”
“COVID-19 has underscored the need for high public hygiene and cleanliness standards. To strengthen environmental public health and keep our dining environment clean, NEA had announced that diners are required to clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter after their meals at public dining spaces from June 2021. We do not anticipate any reduction in cleaning costs to stallholders, as the cleaners will still be required for tasks such as sorting crockery at tray return points as well as cleaning and sanitising tables. In fact, the demands on cleaners have increased due to COVID-19. Diners returning their trays, crockery and litter will help to mitigate manpower challenges in the cleaning workforce and possible upward cost pressures over time. NEA is progressively installing more tray and crockery return stations as well as providing new trays to stallholders. NEA has been engaging the cleaning companies on the revised table-cleaning workflow, for a more effective and efficient process. The trays in hawker centres are reusable. We do not advocate the use of single-use materials, as they are not environmentally sustainable. Diners are required to return their dirty trays and crockery and dispose of their litter, which includes used tissues, and food remnants like shells and bones. Cleaners will help to clean and sanitise the tables thereafter. Diners may use the washbasins provided to wash their hands after returning their trays and crockery to the designated return stations.”
“Offenders may be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for up to three years, or both. SFA will continue to monitor the trends and adjust its regulatory regime if needed.”
“Import source diversification is a key strategy to reduce the risk of food supply disruption and price fluctuations. Singapore’s supply of vegetables is diversified across 58 countries and regions (compared to 53 countries and regions in 2016). Local production contributed to about 13% of leafy vegetables consumption in 2020. The supply of leafy vegetables is susceptible to inclement weather and pest infestation from time to time which may affect their prices in the short term. However, our suppliers are generally able to find alternative sources quickly. The retail prices of vegetables saw some fluctuations in May 2021, arising from inclement weather and temporary COVID-19 related supply disruptions. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) will continue to closely monitor the supply situation, and work with the industry to diversify vegetable imports and enhance local production. SFA has not observed a spike in the import of illegal vegetables in the last six to 12 months. For the first half of 2021, SFA detected 14 cases of illegal vegetable imports, compared to 41 and 21 cases in 2019 and 2020 respectively. SFA allows only licensed importers to import vegetables, and every consignment must be accompanied with a valid import permit. SFA conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with food safety standards and requirements. Samples are taken to SFA’s National Centre for Food Science to check that they meet regulatory requirements. Imported vegetables that fail SFA’s inspections and tests, or that are illegally imported, are not allowed for sale. To deter illegal importing activities, SFA has taken a range of enforcement actions, including composition fine, licence suspension and prosecution in court.”
“Condominiums’ management corporations, or MCSTs, can carry out improvements to the common property and enact by-laws to manage the development, including for the deployment of smoking cabins in non-smoking prohibited areas within the development, subject to the relevant provisions under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Hawkers’ Associations and Town Councils to ensure adequate provision and appropriate siting of tray and crockery return racks in hawker centres, taking into account factors such as the visibility of the racks and the availability of accessible locations to install them. As part of the Clean Tables Campaign, NEA is installing 75 more tray and crockery return racks at hawker centres, on top of the 900 existing racks, and improving the table-cleaning workflow. This is done in consultation with key stakeholders, including Hawkers’ Associations, hawkers, as well as cleaning companies and cleaners. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and NEA are also engaging food court and coffee shop operators to install tray and crockery return infrastructure at visible locations, and to improve their table-cleaning workflow. All of us have to play our part to keep our public dining spaces clean and safe. Returning our dirty trays and crockery after meals will enable cleaners to focus on cleaning and sanitising tables. This will allow for a cleaner and more hygienic dining environment and better protect us against COVID-19 and public health risks.”
“The nation-wide "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign by the National Environment Agency (NEA) encourages everyone to reduce the use of disposables. Many F&B establishments, including hawker stalls, are encouraging customers to bring their own reusable containers and decline disposable utensils for takeaways. Major food delivery companies such as GrabFood, Deliveroo and Foodpanda have made opting out of disposable utensils the default option. This was done as part of their commitment under the Plastic ACTion programme initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature, a partner of the "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign. The Citizens’ Workgroup on Reducing Excessive Consumption of Disposables has recommended a checklist comprising good practices that F&B establishments can adopt to reduce their use of disposables. This includes providing "no cutlery" as a default for takeaways. NEA will continue working with stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations, hawker centre operators and relevant F&B associations to promote this.”
“As Prof Koh alludes to, the Green Plan must also support our people to thrive in the green economy and encourage them to mount sustainability initiatives in the community. Under the "Green Economy" pillar of the Green Plan, we will invest in Singaporeans and help them upskill to take on new jobs in green sectors such as green finance, sustainability consultancy and carbon services and trading. We have also launched the SG Eco Fund to encourage ground-up sustainability initiatives in the community, including those that support climate action and nature conservation. We will continue to partner Singaporeans in building a more liveable, resilient and sustainable future.”
“As a principle, the Government does not ring-fence sources of fiscal revenue for specific purposes. This ensures that the Government has flexibility in allocating resources to priority areas with the most important spending needs. Singapore’s carbon tax was introduced in 2019 to incentivise emission reductions across all sectors and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. We expect to collect carbon tax revenue of about $1 billion in the first five years. To reduce carbon emissions, we are prepared to spend more than this amount on worthwhile projects which deliver emissions abatement. To support our industries in improving energy and carbon efficiency, we have increased the funding support of incentive schemes such as the Resource Efficiency Grant for Energy and the Energy Efficiency Fund. We have also earmarked funds under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan for the research, development and demonstration of sustainable urban solutions, as well as emerging low-carbon technologies that can drive deeper decarbonisation. The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is our whole-of-nation movement to promote sustainable development and drive climate action. It sets out ambitious and concrete sectoral targets over the next decade. These are major undertakings that require significant resources and investments, and the carbon tax revenue alone would not be sufficient. For example, to encourage active mobility and reduce vehicular emissions, we are setting aside more than $1 billion to expand the Islandwide Cycling Network to over 1300km in length by 2030. We have also set up the Coastal and Flood Protection fund, with an initial injection of $5 billion, to help protect Singapore against rising sea levels.”
“There are multiple and diverse sources contributing to the noise experienced in residential areas, such as human activities, construction, traffic, or a combination of these. Given the difficulties in identifying the exact source contributing to the overall noise level, it is challenging to set limits on the overall noise level in residential areas. To address noise disamenity arising from community sources, such as neighbouring housing units, animals, or activities occurring in common areas, various Government agencies have been encouraging community-based solutions and fostering good neighbourliness. There are ongoing initiatives to promote considerate behaviour and tolerance, build strong community bonds, and facilitate community intervention through grassroots leaders and community mediation services. Agencies have also continued public education efforts to encourage neighbourliness to help residents be aware of actions that may cause nuisance to others, such as excessive noise.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) adopts a science-based risk assessment and management approach towards food safety and sets food safety standards that are consistent with international standards. Food imported into Singapore are subjected to our surveillance and sampling regime to ensure food safety. All food imports, including imports from Japan, must comply with SFA’s food safety requirements. SFA will continue to conduct food safety assessments, monitor Japanese food imports and take guidance from international standards as well as international agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to ensure that Japanese food imports comply with our food safety requirements. In the event that food products fail SFA’s inspections and tests, they will not be allowed for sale and will be returned to the country of origin. We strongly encourage Japan to continue working closely with the IAEA and the international community. We hope Japan will adopt an open and transparent approach and share its detailed plans and data collected with the international community going forward.”
“Water is precious to Singapore and to promote conservation and reduce wastage of water, our policy has not been to subsidise it. While Singapore’s water is safe to drink straight from the tap, it is not free as food and beverage (F&B) establishments have to pay for the water. They also incur cost in providing table water, such as cost of washing the glasses and containers and in serving the water. There is no basis for the Singapore Food Agency to mandate that F&B establishments serve tap water free-of-charge under the Environmental Public Health Act.”
“From 2019 to 2020 at Fernvale constituency, NEA took enforcement action against nine offenders for 22 counts of high-rise littering offences. Of these cases, cigarette butts accounted for 95% of the high-rise litter and tissue paper accounted for the rest. The majority of the offenders were aged between 40 and 55. NEA will continue to deploy surveillance cameras with video analytics to catch offenders in the act of high-rise littering. However, increasing the deployment of cameras indefinitely is not sustainable, given resource constraints. Keeping Singapore clean and safe is a collective responsibility. NEA adopts complementary strategies, such as strengthening community partnerships, to raise residents’ awareness of the negative impacts of high-rise littering. NEA also partners Town Councils to put up posters which highlight the environmental and social consequences of high-rise littering. Going forward, we must continue to cultivate social graciousness and good habits to keep Singapore clean and safe.”
“Singapore’s domestic water consumption is tracked based on litres per capita per day (LPCD) at the national level and we currently do not monitor LPCD based on household type.”
“The average monthly consumption for electricity was 1,257.0 kilowatt hour (kWh), 568.8 kWh and 375.9 kWh in 2020 for households living in (i) landed properties, (ii) private condominiums, and (iii) HDB flats respectively. For water, the average monthly consumption was 32.2 cubic metres, 15.0 cubic metres and 16.2 cubic metres in 2020 for households living in (i) landed properties, (ii) private condominiums, and (iii) HDB flats respectively.”
“The Government customises public education efforts and messages based on the target audience. This involves varying the language, content and communication platforms so that we can get the message across. Since 2019, NEA has been running the “Say YES to Waste Less” campaign. The nationwide campaign is aimed at increasing public awareness on why we should reduce excessive consumption of disposables, particularly disposable carrier bags and containers, and outlines the simple actions we can take. Our efforts cover all disposables, whether they are made of plastic, paper or degradable materials, since all disposables have an impact on the environment. The campaign leverages mass media broadcast channels, such as television, digital and social media, as well as out-of-home and print advertisements, in order to reach different segments of the population. For example, we included vernacular content on free-to-air channels, print media for the general population, bite-sized interactive content on social media which target the youth, and digital panel ads at HDB lift lobbies for consumers closer to home. In addition, 95 industry partners operating more than 2,100 retail premises have partnered NEA to provide visual reminders to shoppers at points-of-sale. Campaign materials are produced in all four official languages and include posters, educational videos, as well as visual reminders at points-of-sale.”
“PUB has developed an SMS alert system using its island-wide network of over 300 water level sensors to provide the public with early warning of rising water levels in waterways and drains. CCTVs have also been installed at flood-prone areas and hotspots to remotely monitor real-time road conditions in these areas. The information, which has been made available since 2011, is accessible on PUB’s Managing Flash Floods website. Members of the public can subscribe to the SMS alert system and get timely updates on the flood situation from PUB’s social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. During heavy storms, PUB also works closely with LTA and Traffic Police to monitor road conditions and notify motorists of flooded roads to avoid through electronic road signages, online and social media platforms and radio broadcasts. Since March 2021, all real-time information and updates on floods have been consolidated and made available on the "MyENV" mobile app. We encourage members of public to download the app to stay updated and safe, as Singapore is expected to experience more frequent and intense rainfalls due to climate change.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to make a correction. Earlier, in my reply to the PQ filed by Ms Hany Soh, I said that the Singapore Food Agency and MOH have conducted joint investigations into 27 incidents of Gastroenteritis outbreaks. Of these incidents, 18 were associated with education institutions, with 14 in preschools alone. [Please refer to "Update on Recent Cases of Gastroenteritis in Education Institutions", Official Report, 11 May 2021, Vol 95, Issue No 30, Oral Answers to Questions section.] The correct number should be 13, instead of 14. Thank you for allowing me to make this correction.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for the supplementary question. The short answer to her supplementary question is that we will consider all options. Given that this is a very long-term initiative, we need to consider all options that are good for us, in order for us to have the resource, economic and climate resilience going into the future; including meeting our goals on carbon.”
“How soon we can achieve net-zero emissions will depend on factors, such as global advancement in low-carbon technologies. We are strengthening international partnerships to expand our options to reduce emissions.”
“Climate change is an existential challenge for Singapore and we take it very seriously. We have continually reviewed and enhanced our climate targets and preparations. Last year, we submitted our enhanced 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and our Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS). This year, we launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which sets out a roadmap towards sustainable development and net-zero emissions. Our goal is to peak emissions around 2030 and halve our emissions by 2050. We have put in place a broad-based carbon tax so that companies internalise the cost of carbon, and we will be reviewing the tax trajectory and level, post-2023, to reflect the increased urgency for climate action. We aim for our energy and chemicals sector to be amongst the best-in-class in energy and carbon efficiency globally. We have introduced an enhanced set of Industry Energy Efficiency schemes to give a stronger push for industrial facilities, including those of small and medium-sized enterprises, to be more energy-efficient. In the long term, to achieve our mitigation aspirations, we will pursue three key strategies. First, we will transform our industry, economy and society to adopt more renewable energy, be more energy-efficient and reduce energy consumption. Second, we will invest in and draw on low-carbon technologies, such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage and low-carbon hydrogen. Third, we will foster international collaboration in areas, such as well-functioning carbon markets and regional electricity grids. We will continue to raise our ambitions over time, despite our constraints as a small city-state with limited alternative energy resources.”
“Government agencies, including MOH, MOE, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and SFA, are working closely to adopt a multi-pronged approach to reduce GE incidents in education institutions. We are particularly concerned about pre-schools, given that young children are more vulnerable. We undertake measures, such as issuing guidelines and advisories on environmental hygiene and good food safety practices and health screening of staff and students. We also brief teachers, food handlers and cleaners on good cleaning practices, personal hygiene and food safety practices. SFA will enhance the food safety training framework for food handlers to better equip them with the knowledge and skills to ensure food safety. Later this year, we will implement the environmental sanitation regime for premises, such as pre-schools, under the Environmental Public Health Act. Premises managers and their appointed environmental control coordinators will have to develop and implement an environmental sanitation programme at their premises in accordance with sector-specific standards. These efforts will strengthen environmental hygiene to help reduce the spread of diseases, including GE. It is a collective effort to combat GE outbreaks in our education institutions. Education institutions must play their part to keep their students safe by upkeeping high standards of environmental and personal hygiene and food safety at all times. Parents and care-givers should also keep their sick children at home until they recover, so as to facilitate a healthy and safe environment for all students.”
“Since the start of 2021, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) have conducted joint investigations into 27 incidents of Gastroenteritis (GE) outbreaks involving more than 800 people. Of these incidents, 18 were associated with education institutions, with 14 in preschools alone. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment", Official Report, 11 May 2021, Vol 95, Issue No 30.] Despite only being four months into the year, this is reaching the level of 2019, when 18 out of 33 GE incidents in education institutions occurred in pre-schools. GE is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines, characterised by vomiting and diarrhoea, and can be commonly caused by pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. Viral GE can be transmitted from person to person or through surfaces contaminated by an infected person’s vomitus or faeces. GE can also be spread through contaminated food and water. The joint investigations by SFA and MOH seek to identify the source and cause of contamination, as well as the corrective measures to be taken. The outcome of the investigations depends on factors, such as whether patients seek medical help and testing and whether the source is still present during investigations. For the recent incidents at education institutions, investigations suggest that poor housekeeping practices in schools and lapses in cleaning, including within schools' in-house kitchens, could have contributed to the GE outbreaks. For instance, ineffective cleaning agents were used to sanitise areas contaminated with vomitus and faeces. Chopping boards and knives for raw meat and cooked food were also found kept together instead of separately, thus increasing the risk for cross-contamination.”
“Informal waste collectors or rag-and-bone men have a role to play under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for e-waste. NEA requires the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) Operator to develop and operationalise a plan to integrate them into the overall e-waste collection system. ALBA was appointed as the PRS Operator in February and is engaging companies that consolidate e-waste collected by informal waste collectors. ALBA will leverage such parties to collect, transport and sort e-waste, thereby tapping on the informal waste collectors’ knowledge and network.”
“The sizes of hawker stalls within hawker centres managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators have changed over the years. Hawker centres built before 1985 have stall sizes ranging from five square metres to 13 square metres. Newer centres built after 2011 have a minimum stall size of 10 square metres and provide hawkers with a more comfortable working environment, with more space for cooking and storage. We will continue to use these larger stall size norms for upcoming centres, as well as centres that undergo redevelopment. Each hawker is able to rent up to two cooked food stalls. They can tender for two adjacent stalls, subject to availability. The successful tenderer of two adjacent stalls can apply to NEA to remove the dividing wall to create a larger working space. Many hawkers have successfully done this.”
“For instance, PUB is currently upgrading its rainfall forecasting radar technology, which will help improve prediction of locations where heavy rainfall might occur and enhance response time to potential flash floods. PUB also works closely with LTA and Traffic Police during heavy storms to monitor road conditions and notify motorists of flooded roads to avoid through electronic road signages, online and social media platforms and radio broadcasts. Members of the public can be alerted on flash floods by subscribing to NEA’s and PUB’s weather forecast and water level SMS alerts or access the mobile app, "myENV", for updates on impending heavy rain and the water level in drains at designated locations.”
“Water level sensors installed along the upgraded stretch of Bukit Timah Canal from Jalan Kampong Chantek to Sixth Avenue, just upstream of the expanded Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal, showed the section of the canal was 50% full on 17 April with no flash floods along that stretch despite the heavy rainfall. PUB started the upgrading work on the section of Bukit Timah Canal between Rifle Range Road and Jalan Kampong Chantek, where the localised flash flood occurred, and is expected to complete it in 2024. When completed, we expect the top water level in this section of the Canal to be lower by over one metre for the same rainfall intensity experienced on 17 April. A low-lying 300-metre stretch of the Park Connector next to the Ulu Pandan canal was also flooded on 17 April even though major roads, such as Clementi Road, Clementi Avenue 6, Commonwealth Avenue West and the AYE, served by the canal did not experience flooding. PUB will raise this low-lying section of the Park Connector when PUB reconstructs the Ulu Pandan Canal in tandem with future developments. Since 2011, the Government has invested almost $2 billion in drainage works, and will invest another $1.4 billion over the next five years to enhance our flood resilience. Drainage design standards were also raised in 2011 to cater for higher intensity rainfall, as part of PUB’s broader efforts to address the impact of climate change. It is however not practical to expand our drains to accommodate every extreme rainfall event as this would require massive land take and much higher costs. PUB will put in place cost-effective measures to minimise flood risks and better manage flood events.”
“On 17 April 2021, the Sumatra squall, coupled with convergence of surrounding winds arising from the influence of typhoon "Surigae" near the Philippines gave rise to intense and prolonged rainfall across Singapore. The highest rainfall that day was at Ulu Pandan with 170.6 millimetres of rain. This is the highest daily rainfall recorded in April since 1980 and is equivalent to 110% of Singapore’s average rainfall for the whole month of April, falling in a single day. This rainfall resulted in flash floods occurring at Bukit Timah and Dunearn Roads near Sime Darby Centre and a stretch of the Park Connectors along Ulu Pandan Canal. The water levels in Bukit Timah Canal were very high due to the intense and prolonged rain, impeding discharge from roadside drains along Dunearn Road and Bukit Timah Road into the canal. This resulted in floods of around 150 millimetres depth at Dunearn and Bukit Timah Roads, and around 50 millimetres depth on the pedestrian sidewalks adjacent to the roadside drains. All affected roads remained passable to traffic and the flash floods subsided within 30 minutes. PUB Quick Response Teams were onsite directing traffic and assisting affected residents by issuing inflatable flood bags and portable flood barriers to prevent floodwaters from entering their homes. PUB had completed the upgrading of the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal between Bukit Timah Road and Clementi Road in September 2019 at a project cost of $300 million to alleviate flood risks along Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road.”
“The first SG Eco Fund grant call was open for application from 25 November 2020 to 31 January 2021. We received more than 200 applications from the People, Public and Private (3P) sectors, covering a broad range of topics, such as waste, farming as well as nature and biodiversity. The Trust is finalising its evaluation of the proposals. The outcome of the first grant call will be announced later this month and more details will be released then.”
“Jurisdictions that have implemented bag charges have observed as high as a 60% to 90% reduction in the use of disposable bags. The bag charge will be accompanied by outreach and engagement efforts to remind consumers to take and use disposable carrier bags judiciously, and to bring their own reusable bags. In the long run, bringing reusable bags would also be the more cost-effective and sustainable option since they can be used repeatedly.”