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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“The National Environment Agency (NEA) does not require stalls at hawker centres to provide budget meals. Nevertheless, I understand that the Member's question seeks to clarify whether there are plans to review the provision of value meals at Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs). At SEHCs, NEA requires operators to propose initiatives to keep food affordable. This is in line with the primary mission of hawker centres to provide affordable food options. So far, SEHC operators have done so by having at least one value meal available at each stall. SEHC operators would have explained the value meal requirement upfront to stallholders before signing tenancy agreements, ensuring that stallholders take into account their costs of operation and pricing options. Value meals are part of the range of food options offered at SEHCs at a variety of price points to meet the needs of residents. Stallholders are not expected to make a loss from selling value meals. Each stallholder has the flexibility to propose his or her value meal item, while offering other food options at higher prices. SEHC operators will periodically review value meal prices and have adjusted them based on feedback from stallholders. NEA will continue to require SEHC operators to propose initiatives to ensure food affordability in future tenders.”
“We have not received any report of biting by male Wolbachia mosquitoes. Residents in Project Wolbachia sites may still experience mosquito bites from female mosquitoes of species that are found locally, including those not released by Project Wolbachia. Source reduction efforts, therefore, remain important in suppressing the mosquito population. Through our rigorous laboratory studies and quality control checks, we found that the sex-sorting process for Project Wolbachia achieved an accuracy of 99.9% The small number of female Wolbachia mosquitoes inadvertently released is negligible compared to the overall mosquito population in the community, and these females have significantly reduced ability to transmit diseases. Neighbourhoods where male Wolbachia mosquitoes have been released have seen an 80% reduction in female Aedes aegypti mosquito populations and more than 70% reduction in dengue risk. The National Environment Agency has thoroughly studied the Wolbachia-Aedes suppression technology and conducted independent risk assessments, concluding that it is safe and poses no risk to human health. This conclusion is supported by international research and independent reviews.”
“When the National Environment Agency (NEA) receives feedback on mosquito nuisance, inspections are carried out in the vicinity of the reported location to identify potential mosquito breeding habitats. NEA collaborates with relevant stakeholders, such as Town Councils and premises operators, to enhance mosquito prevention measures when necessary. To better identify areas with higher mosquito populations and potential breeding sources, NEA also cross references feedback with mosquito population surveillance data from Gravitraps.”
“A NEWater plant recycles used water while a desalination plant produces a new drop of water from seawater. As the amount of NEWater that can be produced is limited by the amount of used water generated, desalination plants are also needed to increase and diversify our water supply. We will continue to reduce the energy consumption of the NEWater and desalination processes through research and development on energy-efficient technologies.”
“The Members' queries have been addressed in the combined written reply to Parliamentary Question No 69 at the 13 January 2026 Parliament sitting. [Please refer to "Detection of Toxic Air Pollutants Exceeding International Safety Limits in Jalan Kayu, Punggol or Seletar", Official Report, 13 January 2026, Vol 96, Issue 13, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) receive several cases of feedback on night-time noise from delivery vehicles in HDB estates each year. Upon receiving such feedback, NEA takes enforcement action on the drivers under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) regulations, if they are found to have left the engine idling unnecessarily. HDB also engages HDB shop owners and tenants on measures to reduce noise from delivery activities at night, such as adjusting the delivery schedules where possible. Agencies will continue to monitor and respond to noise feedback received to safeguard public health and well-being.”
“The Member's queries have been addressed in the combined written reply to Parliamentary Question No 69 at the 13 January 2026 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Detection of Toxic Air Pollutants Exceeding International Safety Limits in Jalan Kayu, Punggol or Seletar", Official Report, 13 January 2026, Vol 96, Issue 13, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) introduced the requirement for food handlers to wear masks and spit guards as part of the public hygiene measures in response to COVID-19. We continued to maintain it in line with other public hygiene initiatives. SFA conducts regular reviews of its requirements to ensure they remain relevant in addressing key food safety risks. SFA's recent analysis of foodborne outbreaks found that the key risk factors for food contamination are inadequate sanitation, improper temperature management and contact between raw and cooked food. Food handlers not wearing masks or spit guards pose a low food safety risk. Nonetheless, food businesses should continue adopting food hygiene best practices. We encourage food handlers to wear masks or spit guards and to do so properly to avoid them becoming potential sources of cross-contamination. We discourage food handlers from handling food if they are unwell.”
“As I had announced at Committee of Supply 2025, we are developing Singapore's inaugural National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which will serve as our long-term living strategy for Singapore to continue thriving in the face of climate change. We plan to publish our first NAP in 2027, which will also be submitted as a standalone document to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This builds on our Adaptation Communication and updated Nationally Determined Contributions which were submitted to the UNFCCC in 2022 and 2025 respectively. This will take into account domestic efforts and international developments, such as the framework for indicators1, to track progress on the Global Goal on Adaptation which was recently adopted at COP30. We will share more details on the NAP at COS 2026.”
“With regard to the second supplementary question, I think there are many potential areas where we can work with the New Zealand businesses as well as regulators. As I mentioned, one example we are looking at is how we can better our regulatory framework so as to reduce the chances of disruption in the areas in case of disease outbreak. There are other areas – whether it is in research and innovation, whether it is in investments cooperation, we will do our very best on both sides to facilitate so that we can benefit from more regular exchanges and also trade-facilitated visits between the two countries. As to the first question on global partnership, it is an important pillar of our Singapore Food Story 2. I think it fully deserves a better presentation and discussion. So, I would encourage the Member to either file a separate Parliamentary Question or to participate fully when we discuss the Singapore Food Story 2 during the Committee of Supply debate.”
“The Strategic Food Partnership (SFP) with New Zealand, which was launched in October 2025, aims to strengthen food cooperation between Singapore and New Zealand in areas such as agri-food trade and supply chains, regulations and standards, biosecurity, and research and innovation. This complements the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies, which Singapore has concluded substantive negotiations with New Zealand. Under the agreement, both sides can continue to receive essential supplies, including food items, during supply chain disruptions. One initiative we are exploring under the SFP is to expand the existing regionalisation arrangement for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza to include other significant animal diseases, such as African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease. This would minimise trade disruptions during animal disease outbreaks and can help to maintain consistent food supplies from unaffected regions in New Zealand. We will also look at ways to facilitate greater food trade. These could include facilitating exchanges between both countries' public and private sector stakeholders, such as food and logistics industry players, to identify pain points, and explore solutions and commercialisation and investment opportunities.”
“Singapore supported the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties COP28's decision calling on all countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. At COP30, multiple parties tabled versions of texts to advance work on this decision, which did not achieve consensus. Singapore remained engaged, along with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)1, in the negotiations and will continue to work constructively to advance the global energy transition.”
“This question has been addressed in the combined reply to Parliamentary Question No 69 at today's Sitting.”
“Under our national heatwave response plan, which will be activated upon forecast of a heatwave, air-conditioned cooling centres will be open to members of the public, including vulnerable groups, to seek respite from the heat. These cooling centres will be located islandwide at community facilities, such as community centres/clubs, residents' committees, residents' network centres and indoor sports halls. They will generally be situated near residential areas. Information on the locations and operating hours of the cooling centres will be shared via official Government channels upon activation of the heatwave response plans, together with the other public communications on the heatwave and heat management measures for the public. We will also manage access to cooling centres to ensure that capacity limits are not exceeded, including encouraging the community to work together to ensure that vulnerable individuals have priority access when centres reach their capacity.”
“The named location will see a large volume of water flowing at high velocity during heavy rain. It is not suitable for the suggested recreational use from a safety standpoint.”
“On the bilateral front, we regularly engage our Malaysian counterparts through existing platforms to exchange information on environmental issues of mutual interest, including cross-border pollution concerns. MSE and NEA will continue to review our ambient air quality targets and efforts to ensure that they remain relevant and effective in safeguarding a clean and liveable environment for everyone.”
“In addition to pollutants comprising the Pollutant Standards Index, the National Environment Agency (NEA) continuously monitors a range of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) at its ambient air monitoring stations. Long-term data trends of key pollutants are published in the State of the Environment (SOE) report every five years. The first edition of the report was published in 2021, with a second edition due to be released later this year. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and NEA have been working with Punggol Grassroots Advisors to address similar concerns from residents. VOC readings at our ambient air monitoring stations in residential areas, including four in the north-eastern regions, are well within relevant international guidelines. One of the VOCs of interest is benzene. On an annual basis, Singapore's national ambient benzene level is approximately 0.3 parts per billion (ppb), well below international benchmarks, such as the European Union long-term exposure annual limit value of 1.6 ppb. For shorter term exposure, the US EPA 1-hour Acute Exposure Guideline Level-1 (AEGL-1) represents the airborne concentration above which the general population could experience notable discomfort or irritation. The hourly benzene readings across each of these ambient air monitoring stations are well below 1% of the AEGL-1 threshold. Arising from our engagements with Punggol grassroots advisors in recent months, NEA will be making data on ambient benzene levels available to the public more regularly via their website including by geographical locations. Good air quality safeguards public health and a good living environment. We have a range of policies in place to safeguard air quality, such as efforts to reduce vehicular and industrial emissions.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with other agencies to ensure that Traffic Noise Impact Assessments are conducted for new residential developments located in close proximity to existing land traffic noise sources, such as expressways, as well as new land traffic noise sources located in close proximity to existing residential developments. The assessments entail projecting future noise levels at residential areas from existing or new land traffic noise sources, and recommending noise mitigation measures for either the new residential development or new road infrastructure to meet the noise limits specified in the Technical Guidelines for Land Traffic Noise Impact Assessment developed by NEA. NEA will work with other agencies to periodically review the Technical Guidelines to ensure that they remain relevant.”
“Desalinated water is more energy-intensive and costly than NEWater and imported water but is necessary as a weather-resilient source and one of our Four National Taps. As with all of its new plants, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) will introduce the latest proven technologies in the sixth desalination plant. Some of these will reduce the cost of producing desalinated water. For instance, PUB is exploring technologies, such as ultra-permeable membranes and ceramic membranes, to bring down the energy intensity of desalination. PUB will need to make the necessary investments in water infrastructure so that it can continue to meet Singapore's growing water demand. Our water conservation efforts help to moderate the demand growth and reduce the need for additional water infrastructure and its associated costs.”
“Timbre and the National Environment Agency (NEA) mutually agreed to terminate Timbre's tenancy at One Punggol Hawker Centre (OPHC) on 14 August 2026 due to Timbre's operational challenges. This date would allow NEA sufficient time to appoint a new operator and ensure an orderly transition with minimal disruption to stallholders and patrons. There are no plans for NEA to directly manage OPHC, which will continue to be a Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) works closely with the appointed Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) to ensure the timely collection of refuse and recyclables. For Housing and Development Board (HDB) housing estates, this includes daily refuse collection from bin centres and providing at least one recycling bin per HDB block. The NEA can further direct PWCs to increase the frequency of waste and recyclable collection or increase the number of recycling bins provided to meet demand. This has been routinely done during peak waste generation periods, for example, during festive seasons. The NEA works closely with Town Councils on the collection of refuse and recyclables in housing estates by PWCs. Some Town Councils have requested for additional recycling bins or collections in their locality to serve the needs of the residents and NEA has correspondingly required the appointed PWC to do so. Town Councils provide green refuse bins located in the common areas of housing estates and they can procure more, if needed.”
“This will be addressed in the next Sitting on 13 January 2026, together with similar Parliamentary Questions for a more holistic reply. [Please refer to "Update on Food Security Strategy with Revised 2035 Fibre and Protein Production Targets", Official Report, 13 January 2026, Vol 96, Issue 13, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“Over the past three years, the volume of residential feedback received by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on construction noise has decreased from around 1,040 per month on average in 2022 to around 930 per month in 2024. Feedback received by NEA on factory noise has remained stable at around 30 per month from 2022 to 2024. In setting the noise limits on construction and factory noise under the Environmental Protection and Management Act and its Regulations, NEA references the World Health Organization's guidelines to safeguard public health while taking into consideration our local context. NEA takes strict enforcement action against parties found to have exceeded these noise limits. NEA continues to work with agencies and industry stakeholders to review the approach on noise management, including exploring ways to reduce the noise impact from construction sites and factory premises.”
“My Ministry does not oversee policies on health and nutrition and has no intention to regulate the nutritional value of hawker food. The National Environment Agency will work closely with the Health Promotion Board to encourage healthier food options and choices at hawker centres.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Town Councils to issue advisories to residents of the block concerned when feedback on high-rise littering at a particular block is first received. Should high-rise littering persist, NEA would take further steps to determine the likely offending unit, including by deploying surveillance cameras, if feasible, to capture violations. The statutory presumption provision on littering from residential flats, introduced from 1 July 2023, has placed greater onus on flat owners and tenants to prevent acts of high-rise littering. It also ensures that investigations and effective enforcement are not inhibited by uncooperative behaviour. Any individual convicted of high-rise littering is liable to a fine of up to $2,000 for a first conviction. Repeat offenders face fines of up to $4,000 for a second conviction and up to $10,000 for third and subsequent convictions. The Court may also impose a Corrective Work Order, requiring offenders to clean public areas for up to 12 hours. Each case of a repeat offence is assessed individually and NEA will take into account any valid mitigating factors. For example, where mental health conditions may be a contributing factor, enforcement alone may not resolve the issue. In such cases, NEA works closely with stakeholders, such as the grassroots leaders and family members, to provide appropriate support and implement preventive measures, such as the installation of wire mesh across window grilles to prevent future incidents.”
“The amount of plastic waste generated in Singapore between 2019 and 2024 is as follows: As the period from 2020 to 2021 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of plastic waste generated in those years may not be reflective of the norm. With the easing of COVID-19 measures, the amount of plastic waste rose briefly before trending downwards. Under the Resource Sustainability Act and the Zero Waste Masterplan, we have introduced various schemes, such as the Disposable Carrier Bag Charge, and the Beverage Container Return Scheme, which will be implemented next year. Over time, we expect these measures to help reduce the amount of plastic waste disposed of.”
“Stall rentals at Socially-Conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs) are proposed by operators in their tender bids to the National Environment Agency (NEA). Since 2019, NEA has further capped stall rentals to the average of independently valued rents. Currently, only one SEHC operator applies a rental formula where stall rent may be tied to monthly gross turnover, which is subject to a rent cap of $2,550 per month.”
“To date, the Government and carbon tax-liable companies have not purchased any carbon credits under the International Carbon Credits Framework. In September 2025, the Government announced that it will contract high-quality nature-based carbon credits from four projects in Ghana, Paraguay and Peru. These projects are expected to deliver 2.175 million tonnes of carbon credits towards our 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution.”
“Based on the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Master Plan for the area, the Public Utilities Board has assessed that the Sungei Serangoon drainage system, including the area between Tampines Road and Serangoon East Dam, is adequate.”
“The National Environment Agency is currently reviewing the Hawkers' Development Programme to ensure it remains relevant in supporting aspiring hawkers and will provide an update on the review when it is complete.”
“My Ministry and the National Environment Agency have been progressively implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes to strengthen producer responsibility. We also encourage and support ground-up efforts from industry to manage waste responsibly, such as the Alliance for Action on Packaging Waste Reduction for the e-Commerce sector. Our current areas of focus for EPR are e-waste, which was implemented in 2021, and beverage containers, which will be introduced next year through the Beverage Container Return Scheme. Used textiles are not readily recyclable due to the highly varied materials and fibre blends used. Currently, they are collected via a network of channels (e.g. in-store collection points) for resale or reuse. My Ministry will continue to review ways to support proper management of textile waste. Proper waste management remains a shared responsibility. All of us play a part to reduce, reuse and recycle.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Housing Development Board (HDB) tendered out 16 Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) sites in 2020 and 2021 to pilot commercial urban farming. Only seven of these urban farms remain today. The combined production volume of the MSCP farms is small, at less than 1% of local production in 2024. Employment outcomes and profitability are correspondingly limited. That said, these farms bring local production closer to the community, allowing farms to organise community engagement activities if there is interest. SFA and HDB have received feedback on disamenities, such as noise and odour, due to the proximity of the farms to residential blocks. SFA investigates all feedback and works closely with farm operators to implement mitigating measures where possible. There are no plans to launch new tenders for commercial farming at MSCP sites. Entities that wish to take up commercial farming can consider participating in SFA's land and sea space tenders, which offer more space and longer leases to contribute to local production and food security.”
“PUB reviews sectoral water efficiency performance annually, taking into consideration the latest industry trends and technology developments, and sets water efficiency targets to guide and improve overall sectoral performance. The intent of such benchmarks and guides is to encourage companies to continually identify and implement new solutions to enhance their water efficiency. PUB recognises organisations in Singapore for exceptional achievements in water efficiency, innovation and advocacy under the Singapore Watermark Awards.”
“The Public Utilities Board (PUB) manages national water consumption through a multi-pronged approach. As water is a scarce resource, it is priced to reflect the full costs of its supply and production, and the cost of producing the next drop of water. Right-pricing water encourages water conservation by all users, including those from the non-domestic sector. PUB also mandates measures to encourage and incentivise large water users and water-intensive industries to use water efficiently. Large water users must submit their Water Efficiency Plans to PUB annually, which allows PUB to engage companies to identify water saving opportunities and provide guidance on using water efficiently. For new projects with annual water consumption above 60,000 m3 in the wafer fabrication, electronics, biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, PUB has introduced mandatory water efficiency requirements from 1 January 2024, such as a minimum 50% recycling rate for new plants in the wafer fabrication sector involved in front-end semiconductor manufacturing. Companies that fail to comply with the mandatory measures are liable for an offence amounting to a maximum penalty of $40,000. PUB also supports companies that seek out efficient and innovative ways to manage their water demand through incentives and grants. Companies can tap on PUB's Water Efficiency Fund to support their water efficiency projects, including large-scale water recycling projects to achieve higher recycling rates than the mandatory requirements. PUB has developed sectoral water efficiency benchmarks and best practice guides.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) partners with Institutes of Higher Learning and local farms to develop Pre-employment Training (PET) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) programmes, to equip students and adult learners with skillsets that will enable meaningful careers in the local agri-food sector. As part of the PET programme, polytechnics match their students to the agri-food sector, including farms, for structured internship opportunities, giving them first-hand experiences of working in the industry while putting to use their knowledge and practical skills. As of October 2025, there are eight PET and CET programmes and a range of SkillsFuture short courses to meet industry needs. In addition to building skills for the agri-food sector, these programmes are developed to provide students with cross-disciplinary skills. These programmes help graduates to stay adaptable and open up employment opportunities across sectors.”
“There are two Housing and Development Board Build-To-Order projects currently under construction in Fernvale – Fernvale Sails and Fernvale Oasis. From August to October 2025, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received 14 instances of feedback on construction noise from these construction sites, but the on-site noise meters detected only one instance of non-compliance with the regulatory noise limits by the contractor of Fernvale Sails. The contractor was fined for this violation. NEA will continue to monitor the construction sites and take appropriate enforcement action against any instances of non-compliance with the regulatory noise limits.”
“The public can refer to the Singapore Food Agency's (SFA's) website for a non-exhaustive list of local land-based farms that offer farm tours. For public safety and biosecurity reasons, visits to sea-based farms are not encouraged. SFA has been focusing on supporting the growth of our local farms and raising their productivity, such as through the adoption of technologies. Nonetheless, SFA collaborates with industry and other agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, to raise awareness on the benefits of local produce among the community, such as through educational initiatives in schools on food security and supporting local produce.”
“Designated Smoking Points (DSPs) within municipal areas are community-led initiatives set up in places where smoking is not prohibited. Community groups interested in setting up DSPs should ensure that they are appropriately sited and managed to minimise disamenities to the public. The National Environment Agency will continue to advise community groups interested in setting up DSPs accordingly.”
“The Singapore Food Agency does not collect data on the number of graduates from local Institutes of Higher Learning or relevant Continuing Education Training Programmes who have joined sea-based fish farms or recipients of the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) takes a firm stance against subletting to prevent stallholders from engaging in rent-seeking behavior. If left unchecked, subletting could have an impact on operating costs and food affordability. NEA conducts regular inspections and issues warnings to stallholders found to be not personally operating their stall. Recalcitrant stallholders will be issued termination notices and could be barred from renting other hawker stalls. Stallholders and members of the public who suspect any subletting activities are encouraged to report them to NEA. NEA ensures a robust channel for stall allocation to new entrants through an open and transparent stall bidding system for NEA-managed hawker centres, and monitors bids closely to identify anomalies. Prospective tenderers are informed upfront that they must personally operate their stalls and are not allowed to sublet. These restrictions are also clearly stated in the tenancy agreement between NEA and stallholders.”
“Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre (SEHC) operators curate stalls at their centres and adjust their stall mix over time, taking into account factors such as patrons' needs and demands. We will consider the Member's suggestion.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has been focusing on supporting the growth of our local farms and raising their productivity such as through the adoption of technologies. For public safety and biosecurity reasons, visits to offshore fish farms and kelongs are not encouraged. Nonetheless, SFA, in collaboration with the industry and other agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, has several initiatives to raise awareness on the benefits of local produce among the community.”
“Food waste is one of the three priority waste streams under the Zero Waste Masterplan. As part of our national approach, we have implemented a range of efforts to holistically reduce the amount of food waste generated and improve food waste recycling, including segregation of food waste from large industrial and commercial generators. We are encouraged that community partners, such as Public Waste Collectors and Town Councils, have trialled the collection of segregated food waste from households. However, the household participation rate of some of these trials could not be sustained despite regular engagement and reminders. Ultimately, the support of all stakeholders is needed to sustain such household food waste segregation initiatives. My Ministry continues to encourage such ground-up initiatives to manage food waste and is prepared to support promising proposals. In addition, we will continue to review measures and explore ways to reduce food waste and improve food waste recycling from domestic premises.”
“The relevant Singapore agencies have independent processes in place to ensure the safety of food and medicinal products sold in Singapore. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) requires overseas sources of high-risk food products to be accredited before they can be imported and continues to monitor these sources regularly after accreditation. SFA also has an inspection regime to test for food safety along critical nodes of the supply chain, including at the point of import. Unsafe food products will be rejected or recalled from the market. Medicines are registered and verified by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to have met rigorous international scientific standards and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements to ensure they are safe, effective and of good quality. Once the medicines are marketed, HSA conducts risk-based sampling to check that medicines continue to meet the required standards. There is also a national adverse reaction monitoring programme to detect any safety issues reported by healthcare professionals or consumers. When necessary, SFA and HSA will take swift regulatory actions to protect public health, food and medicinal safety.”
“Over the years, stall patronage at wet markets has declined. Changing demographics have led to fewer Singaporeans shopping at wet markets, with more shopping at supermarkets and online. The continued viability of wet markets ultimately depends on whether there is adequate consumer demand rather than just the availability of younger stallholders.”
“The Government has been progressively implementing segregated waste collection, starting with e-waste in 2021, and food waste generated from new large industrial and commercial buildings in 2024. In 2026, we will extend segregated collection to beverage containers. We will continue to review and implement segregated waste collection where appropriate to complement our National Recycling Programme. Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) are appointed by the National Environment Agency through open tenders for each of the six geographical sectors in Singapore. Participation in these tenders is open to all companies that fulfil the experience and capacity requirements, and the successful tenderers are selected based on merit. We do not limit the number of PWCs to three.”
“The two site-specific studies for the north-west coast, covering our coastal reservoirs and our shoreline from Lim Chu Kang to Woodlands, are currently underway and are due to be completed by 2026. The site-specific study for the south-west coast, which will dovetail with the ongoing study for Jurong Island, will commence in 2026. Both studies are targeted for completion by 2030. The studies for the North and North-east coast, from Pasir Ris to Sembawang, will be conducted later. The Public Utilities Board and the relevant public agencies will carry out preliminary and detailed designs of the recommended measures following the completion of site-specific studies. Construction of measures is expected to commence in the 2030s.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) does not track the number of home-based food businesses as they are not required to be licensed. Home-based food businesses are subject to existing food safety regulations to ensure that food sold is safe for consumption. SFA will take enforcement action against home-based food businesses if they are found to be engaged in the sale of unsafe food. As the activities undertaken by home-based food businesses are small-scale, the Singapore Civil Defence Force does not impose additional fire safety requirements beyond what is required in a residential setting.”
“The National Environment Agency takes a pragmatic approach in identifying smoking-prohibited places, prioritising factors such as high footfall, frequent use by families or enclosed spaces. Smoking is prohibited in common areas within residential buildings, including rooftop gardens located within or connected to residential buildings as these are more likely to be frequented by residents. While smoking is not prohibited on rooftop gardens above multi-storey car parks, my Ministry will consider the Member's suggestion as we continue to review the smoking prohibition regulations.”
“Based on current waste disposal rates, Semakau Landfill will reach full capacity around 2035. In addition to measures and initiatives to promote recycling and reduce waste generation, the National Environment Agency is exploring solutions to repurpose waste residues, such as incineration ash. This includes the recovery and processing of landfilled materials for land reclamation.”