Koh Poh Koon
Singapore
“In 2025, for walk-in patients, the median and 95th percentile doctor consultation waiting times were eight minutes and 72 minutes respectively. However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track waiting times by peak versus off-peak hours, but it is likely that 95th percentile waiting times happened during peak hours.”
“The offences and penalties for importing, supplying or abusing SPS products are similar to those in the MDA, to ensure similar level of deterrence. Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I ask the Clerks to distribute a handout that summarises the changes in legislative penalties for key offences.”
“So, if you are a Singaporean student, you will expect that there will be some subsidies to the fees. The third question on how can the public, who may want to seek psychological care, know who is legitimate.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his question on audiologists. In general, a qualified audiologist in Singapore needs a higher level of certification because a diploma level may not be quite enough to perform the task. So, we will look and see whether there is a way to actually find an in-between.”
“We are starting with registration to give formal recognition to those who are practising in higher risk sub-sectors in psychology and making sure that the quality, the standards and the support is given to them to deliver the care that the clients and the patients need.”
“It takes a bit of, not just system change in the providers, in the doctors and the care teams, but also, a gradual shift in the mindset of our population as well. So, it is something that we have to continue to do. There is no magic bullet to this and it is not something we can achieve overnight. 12.15 pm”
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“The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) adopts a multi-pronged approach to controlling the population of wild birds like crows, mynahs and pigeons in our Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates. First, AVA works with Town Councils to implement measures to mitigate issues caused by birds, and this includes using bird deterrent gels and fogging trees to discourage birds from roosting near our residential areas. Second, AVA also works with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Town Councils to ensure proper disposal of food waste at our hawker centres and within our residential areas. This reduces the availability of food that will attract the birds. Third, AVA also works with NParks and Town Councils to prune trees within the estates to deter birds from roosting in those trees. AVA also conducts regular surveillance of wild birds to detect diseases and thus far, there has been no detection of diseases of concern in the common bird species. AVA also inspects pet shops that sell birds to the general public to ensure that the birds are properly looked after and in good health. Moreover, in our farming industry, our local poultry farms are required to put in place proper biosecurity measures to prevent any disease incursion. Members of the public are advised therefore also to exercise due care and caution to not handle any dead birds or have direct contact with bird droppings because these are where diseases can be transmitted. AVA has considered the suggestion to use sonic systems to deter birds. However, we must be aware that the effects are usually temporary and the birds have been known to acclimatise to the sound. Such sonic systems can also be quite loud which reduces their suitability for deployment in our dense residential areas.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, section 10A defines the parties in which this Act will apply but the conditions in which AVA will then apply this Act on are specified in the other parts of the Act which specify situations and circumstances in which this Act will apply, where there is strong suspicion of a food safety hazard being present. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Dr Koh Poh Koon]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the class is to define who are subjected to the Act. As I had explained earlier, the whole idea is to ensure that this Act encompasses all establishments, whether they are public events or whether they are a food business that actually causes food to be consumed by the public for which a public health risk is present. So, it is meant to define a broader scope so that we can have the powers to compel someone who is actually creating a public health hazard to stop what they are doing based on the risk that we assess to be present.”
“But I understand Mr Louis Ng's perspective. Sir, let me stress that any exemption will only be granted under very stringent conditions and for a very specified period of time. The Director-General will also be supported by AVA's risk assessment team, which will thoroughly evaluate the food safety risks of any exemption, based on scientific evidence. Any exemption made must also be publicised for transparency. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to conclude by thanking Members once again for their support and suggestions. The proposed amendments to the Act are important in enhancing public food safety, protecting consumer interests and promoting public health. With evolving business landscapes and products, it is crucial that we continue to ensure that our legislation is both current and effective. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. 6.46 pm”
“Many times, the industry players themselves would willingly want to recall the food items for fear of their own reputation risk of a persistent on-going food poisoning episode taking place in the community. As for compensation, each case will have to be individually evaluated because they all have varied circumstances. Hence, AVA will assess each case on its own merits to determine if the party claiming "insufficient grounds" has actually a case. In the event that the party is dissatisfied with the decision, the party may apply to the Court for a review. Let me now address questions about the administrative aspects of the Act. Mr Louis Ng asked about the need to allow the Director-General of AVA to grant exemptions from the provisions of the Act. This provision is needed to facilitate food innovation and trade, in situations where there is actually negligible risk to public health. For example, there was a case of a food additive that was called L-theanine detected in a brand of Taiwanese milk tea in 2016. At that time, L-theanine was not yet permitted for use as a food additive in Singapore, although it had been assessed to be safe by several countries which already allowed its use. But because it was not gazetted at that time as a permitted food additive in Singapore, that product was not allowed for sale in Singapore. Hence, there was a certain delay and business cost. The product was only subsequently allowed for sale after our legislation was amended. Members would appreciate how much time it takes for legislation to be amended. The point is, we want to allow some flexibility and not have to wait until legislation is amended in cases where there are no food safety concerns so that we can be pro-business while pro-public safety at the same time.”
“But, like I have said, this is only used in a time where there is a high suspicion or an actual incidence of food safety lapses. In the absence of those, business as usual in all these events and places. AVA has rigorous Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to identify food safety issues and to then deal with food recalls, food poisoning outbreaks, as well as follow-up actions that are necessary when food businesses are found to have produced contaminated food. In cases of food recalls, the new Act also allows AVA to take action when it suspects that the food is contaminated. This SOP is regularly reviewed to ensure that it remains effective and current. Any actions taken will be commensurate with the type of food-borne hazard that is suspected or detected, as well as the nature of the business itself. For example, control measures can be calibrated according to the extent and severity of the case in question because no two incidents are similar in its nature. In a severe case like when harmful bacteria or chemicals are detected in food, AVA can trigger a food recall and inform the public of this potential risk. But in less serious cases, like the presence of just an unapproved food additive, for example, AVA can restrict the movement of the goods while it assesses the additive so it can halt the sales or distribution of food while the testing is underway. I would like to assure the House that, as in past cases where food safety measures were implemented, AVA will continue to work closely with the affected parties. This is to ensure that the measures are imposed only to the extent that is necessary and to minimise business disruptions. And so far, for all the cases of food recalls that have taken place, there has always been close communication with the industry.”
“Let me clarify that this Bill does not deal with the licensing of retail food businesses like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shops. As for her point on the reach of the new Part IIA, I need to clarify that these powers are discretionary. They are only exercisable under certain circumstances as set out in the new sections 10D(1), 10E(1) and 10F(1). In all these cases, AVA must reasonably believe that there is non-compliance or hazard that poses public health risks. The new Part IIA will empower AVA to issue directions for the purposes of food safety. This covers not only just food recalls, but any rectifications that are needed to ensure that unsafe food does not continue to be produced and distributed to consumers. That is why the provisions on food safety measures need to apply to a wide range of food businesses or any establishment that produces food for public consumption. That said, these provisions will only be used when food safety lapses or issues are suspected, as I had said earlier. As long as there are no food safety concerns, this should not present an impediment for food businesses or events where food is sold. So, if I may use the example that Ms Sylvia Lim quoted earlier about community events or, say, even a church event or a religious organisation giving out food, for example. It really does not matter what entity it is, as long as food that is produced in that facility is being consumed by the public. Just imagine a scenario where there is an outbreak of food poisoning. If many people, after they have been to the event, have been admitted to the A&E while the event is still ongoing, I think the onus is on AVA to now make sure that there is compliance to immediately stop the distribution of food in that facility for further public consumption.”
“It is often better to take quick action to minimise continued risks to public health due to this suspected food contamination. The amendments will now allow more timely interventions by AVA to stop the sale of suspected unsafe food or food contact articles. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how we would ensure that these recalled food items do not re-enter the food supply chain. I would like to assure Mr Gan that AVA, firstly, will seal any recalled products to prevent tampering. And if the products are meant for disposal, AVA officers will either personally witness the disposal, or allow the company to appoint authorised third-party disposal companies to do so. Prior to the disposal, AVA officers will verify the details of the products to ensure that they actually match the batch of products which has been recalled. These measures ensure that the recalled products cannot be recycled or repackaged for resale in Singapore. However, AVA may allow the recalled food to be returned to its country of origin, or be re-exported to a third country. For the latter, re-export to a third country, AVA will require evidence from the importer to show that the authorities in the country will accept the products, even after knowing the reason why the products were not allowed for sale in Singapore. The importer will also have to engage an AVA-appointed security escort service to supervise the transport of the food to the port or checkpoint. Mr Gan Thiam Poh also asked if AVA had the necessary expertise and manpower to oversee the entire food recall process. The answer is yes. As I have mentioned earlier, this process is not new and AVA has already been working closely with the industry for many years on such recalls. Ms Sylvia Lim asked questions related to Part IIA of the amended Act.”
“That said, residents operating home-based food businesses are encouraged to adhere to NEA's guidelines on good hygiene practices and to attend NEA's Basic Food Hygiene Course. Members of the public concerned about food safety or hygiene standards at these premises can contact NEA for further investigation. If the scale of such activity to conduct within HDB homes, for example, remains small, dis-amenity should be minimal. But if the scale increases to an extent that creates inconveniences for neighbours, the business will then have to relocate to a proper food establishment. So, it is really a matter of scale and how much impact they have on overall public consumption and public safety. Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar suggested tightening regulations to equip retail food business operators with requisite knowledge of good food safety and hygiene practices. All our food handlers working in NEA-licensed premises are already required to attend and pass the Basic Food Hygiene course and to attend regular refresher courses to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to guard against any hygiene lapses. Food safety and hygiene are critical and this is why AVA and NEA will continue to work with our local food establishments to raise the bar on food safety and hygiene practices. Members also spoke about food recalls. Mr Alex Yam asked about how the new process for food recalls will enhance food safety. Currently, AVA works with the industry to stop the sale of food when it has been found to be contaminated with food safety hazards. This is usually done through testing. However, laboratory analysis takes time. A test needs time to run and the results take time to be available.”
“Mr Alex Yam asked broadly about how AVA is responding to the changing consumer landscape in its regulation of the sale of food. AVA carries out its horizon scanning to provide early alerts of overseas food safety and animal disease incidents. AVA also monitors other food-related trends. AVA will assess these latest trends and developments and take appropriate measures to mitigate the risks to consumers. Mr Alex Yam also asked about how misleading claims made by third-party advocates or influencers online can be addressed. As I mentioned earlier, the amendments will allow AVA to regulate claims, including those made on local Internet sites. This includes third-party advocates who have been paid to promote the sale of the product. The onus will be on the local agents or the paid advocates to ensure that the claims that they are making are truthful. Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked what constitutes commercial gain. This could include monetary and in-kind sponsorships like freebies, gifts and discounts. There is no specific law that requires a social media influencer to declare which of their personal posts selling foods have commercial interests. However, I think it stands to reason that a responsible influencer should also be a transparent one. Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar's concerns are about the food safety standards and potential dis-amenity caused by home-based food businesses. Residents are allowed to prepare small quantities of food for sale in their homes under the HDB's Home-Based Small Scale Business and URA's Home Business Scheme. NEA also does not regulate these businesses for food safety, unlike other food retail outlets.”
“Indeed, we are intending to align some of the SIFECS guidelines on infant formula labelling with our Food Regulations. And these will be announced in due course. But I must say that, on the issue of infant formula, it is not about just regulations per se. We need to continue to step up public education so that our young parents are equipped with the correct information and knowledge to make the right choices because the asymmetry of information is what allows them to be exploited by aggressive marketing. With informed choices, our parents can then make the right choice of the type of formula that is suitable for their infants. So, for that, we must thank Health Promotion Board and MOH as well as grassroots organisations for conducting plenty of outreach activities in the community to reach out to our young parents. I thank all these agencies. Members have also made several comments about online and home-based food businesses. Mr Louis Ng and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked if the Act would cover the sale of food online. The short answer is yes. Any food products that are put up for sale in Singapore must comply with requirements in the Sale of Food Act (SOFA). The current SOFA already allows AVA to regulate the sale of food, regardless of the manner in which they were sold. AVA will be able to take action against local agents, for example, the importer or distributor who makes the food available for sale through online platforms. However, consumers should exercise caution when purchasing food directly from overseas producers, including those from online sources, as their sources of distribution may not be regulated and AVA may not be able to subject the food to checks, if need be.”
“In this regard, MOH has been working closely with both private and public hospitals to achieve the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) certification. BFHI-certified hospitals must refuse gifts offered by milk companies and cannot distribute marketing materials or milk samples. Currently, all three of our public hospitals with maternity services, namely, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, the National University Hospital and the Singapore General Hospital, are BFHI-certified and they have been certified for the last three to four years. We will continue to encourage greater uptake of this BFHI certification. The Sale of Infant Formula Ethics Committee Singapore (SIFECS) is also conducting a holistic review of its Code of Ethics, including a review on the existing guidelines on industry sponsorships. In public hospitals, the major brands of infant formula are rotated equally throughout the year. MOH is engaging hospitals and industry players to make available more affordable infant formula brands in the ready-to-feed form that are suitable for use in hospitals. This is so that parents need not be "locked-in" to expensive brands of infant formula at a very early stage, especially during the post-partum period within the hospitals. As for Mr Louis Ng's question on how the proposed amendments apply to this issue, the short answer is that they will enable us to regulate marketing practices in hospitals in order to promote public health and consumer interests. However, as explained, we are adopting a multi-prong approach to address this. We will assess the need for additional regulations, where necessary. Mr Louis Ng also asked whether the SIFECS Code can be incorporated into the Food Regulations. This would give the Code some legal backing.”
“Any claim that a product is 100% pure juice will have to meet prescribed standards. Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin also asked about health products. I would say these are separately regulated under the Health Products Act and have been explicitly excluded from this Bill. Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin also made some comments about the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) programme. As this programme is not covered under this Bill, we will pass her comments to MOH. Ms Sun Xueling asked whether the amendments will enable regulations to be made to prohibit health and nutrition claims on infant formula. These amendments will allow us to limit claims to those that enable consumers to make informed choices and prevent any misleading conduct in connection with the sale of food. We intend to tighten regulations on health and nutrition claims and idealised images on infant formula labels. This will curb excessive marketing and improve clarity of labelling to ensure consumers can make informed choices. We do not want parents to be unduly swayed into paying more for certain products due to aggressive or potentially misleading marketing. Companies may then also end up passing on costs from these aggressive advertising and marketing activities to our consumers. We are studying the scope of the prohibitions and are consulting with the industry. We will announce our regulatory changes by the end of this year. Let me now address the other questions relating to infant formula. Mr Louis Ng has pointed out that some manufacturers have provided their products to hospitals and this could get infants "hooked" on to certain brands. I understand Mr Louis Ng's concerns and agree that we should minimise brand lock-in at our hospitals.”
“Once a particular health claim has been approved, any company may then use that claim on food labels and advertisements. This process applies to both local and imported products. Any company found using an unapproved health claim may be fined up to $5,000. In short, we already regulate health claims to a large extent. Mr Gan Thiam Poh also asked if consumers will be allowed to take legal action against companies that make false claims. The existing legislation already prohibits the use of false or misleading claims. Consumers who have concerns regarding false or misleading claims on any of the food products can report these claims to AVA for their further investigation. Consumers may also commence an action against the company under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, if they have entered into a transaction in reliance on these false claims made by a company and have suffered a loss as a result of the false claim. What the Bill does is to strengthen our existing framework by allowing AVA to regulate a wider variety of claims on food labels, as well as advertisements and promotions. Regulations can now be made to specify what claims are allowed and the manner in which they are presented. So, in other words, a claim need not be false for AVA to take action. Any claim that negatively impacts consumers can be regulated, if necessary. Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin made several suggestions on labelling. Under the Food Regulations, all labels of pre-packaged food must indicate the presence of allergens or ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity, such as milk, eggs or nuts. This is to ensure that consumers with food allergies can make informed choices and avoid a medical emergency. We will study the other suggestions that she has raised. Mr Alex Yam asked about fruit juices.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the Members for their broad expressions of support for the Bill. I believe that we all see the value in having better measures to enhance food safety and public health. Having said that, Members have also expressed several important points which I will now address. Let me start with the points related to the provision of food-related information. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how enforcement on claims will be carried out. He also asked if food companies will be required to present evidence about their product claims before their products can be sold in Singapore. There is already an existing framework for AVA to evaluate and approve health claims made on food labels and advertisements. Health claims for food refer to any representation that states, suggests or even implies a relationship between a food product or its ingredients and health. Examples of approved health claims are sentences and claims such as, "Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth" or statements, such as "Choline helps support overall mental functioning". Each time a company wants to make a new health claim, it has to submit an application to AVA with the relevant scientific evidence to back up the claims. The claim is then assessed by AVA's Advisory Committee on Evaluation of Health Claims, which consists of members from academia, Government agencies and also from the food industry associations. The Committee evaluates these claims based on the principles recommended by Codex Alimentarius Commission. This is an international food standard-setting body that is established by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). AVA will then review the Committee's evaluation to decide whether to approve that claim.”
“However, AVA will continue to ensure that these products still meet all the food safety standards and are safe for consumption. In conclusion, the proposed amendments will benefit consumers and enhance public health as well as food safety. We have already started consulting the food industry and will continue to engage and partner them throughout this transition. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 5.38 pm”
“For example, third party logistics players are now providing space for businesses to store food and the storage conditions in some of these food warehouses are not ideal. So, AVA has assessed that licensing food warehouses is a necessary measure to protect public health. AVA has already started engaging the industry, and over 1,000 food warehouses have registered on a voluntary basis. AVA will progressively license these food warehouses starting with the ones storing high-risk items like infant or baby food and products that require proper temperature control like ice cream and yoghurt. Licensing fees will be pegged to the size of the warehouse and will not exceed $600 a year. As for the other non-retail food establishments, AVA will study the need for licensing. Finally, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Bill updates some existing provisions and provides operational flexibility to AVA. Clause 6 makes clear the circumstances when the power to require information may be exercised by an authorised officer appointed by AVA. For example, during investigations in the food poisoning cases, officers may ask for records like invoices, certificates issued by competent authorities or organisations, production records and so on. The amendment states clearly the circumstances under which authorised officers may exercise such powers. Clause 18 enables the Director-General of AVA to grant administrative exemptions for a specified period from any provisions of the Act or its subsidiary legislation. These exemptions are governed by strict criteria to safeguard public health and can only be granted to avoid unnecessary restrictions on trade. For example, this will allow AVA the flexibility to allow new brands or parallel imports even if they do not meet certain labelling requirements.”
“For example, in February 2016, some chocolate confectionery products were suspected to have been contaminated with pieces of plastic. AVA was alerted to the incident via its scanning and worked with the importers to effect a recall. But this amendment will address future instances when there might be less responsible or cooperative industry players. The amendment Bill also provides a recall framework that provides more clarity and certainty to the industry. Let me describe this in further detail. Clause 8 introduces a clear and gradated set of directions that AVA may issue to identified persons or entities for the purposes of food safety. If there is potential serious danger to public health, AVA may issue directions to recall food and food contact articles. In less serious cases, directions can be given for general corrective actions or to control product movements. AVA may also issue additional directions for follow-up actions, such as disposal, storage or publishing statements to the public. Failure to comply with any of these directions will be an offence. We recognise that food recalls can cause reputational harm and disrupt business processes. Decisions to effect recalls are based on rigorous assessment. AVA will also work with the industry to address situations before a food recall is announced. In the unlikely event of a false alarm, the Bill puts in place an appeal and compensation mechanism that the affected person or entity can use to seek redress. The Bill also strengthens AVA's regulation of non-retail food businesses. Clauses 10 and 11 will empower AVA to license all non-retail food businesses, such as warehouses, wholesalers and distributors. The advent of new business practices makes this important.”
“In this regard, clause 19 clarifies the scope of regulations pertaining to the provision of information on food, for instance, specifying what can or must be contained in labels, promotions and advertisements, as well as how this content is being presented. This will allow regulations to be enacted to ensure that promotional information is provided in a suitable manner that helps consumers make informed choices instead of confusing or misleading consumers. This amendment also allows us to require infant formula companies to place statements encouraging breastfeeding on their labels. We already have a robust system that contributes to our reputation as a trusted and reliable jurisdiction when it comes to food safety. However, we are amending the Act to further enhance food safety, by allowing AVA to act more quickly on food recalls. Currently, AVA stops the sale of food when it has been found, through testing, to be contaminated by food safety hazards. However, food supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, given multiple sources, players and products. It now takes more time to confirm the precise source and the nature of any contamination. Instead of waiting for the outcome of such an investigation and testing, clause 8 allows AVA to effect food recalls when the safety or suitability of the food or food contact article is in doubt or contamination is suspected. This will prevent or reduce the possibility of serious danger to the public while investigations are still ongoing. So far, our industry players have been responsible in taking quick remedial action when there are suspected cases and we are really grateful for their cooperation.”
“To further strengthen consumer protection, we intend to tighten regulations on labelling and advertising of formula milk. Certain claims and images on tins create the impression, even when scientific evidence is weak, that these products can somehow do more for children. In this context, we are expanding the scope of the SOFA to regulate food labelling and the provision of information relating to food to help consumers make more informed choices. Coupled with education campaigns, we want to facilitate better understanding of products so that consumers do not, for example, always end up equating price or marketing claims with quality. Mr Deputy Speaker, allow me to elaborate. First, clause 2 of the amendment Bill will expand the scope of the Act from securing the wholesomeness, purity and safety of food, to ensuring that companies provide adequate and accurate information and preventing them from providing misleading information. This will strengthen consumer protection, help consumers make more informed choices and promote public health. Second, clauses 9 and 19 provide a framework to better regulate the provision of information on food. Currently, AVA regulates false labelling and advertising of food to prevent misleading claims. In the event that a case is brought to Court, the prosecution has to provide evidence of falsity to assert a breach. The amendments will now require the defendant to produce evidence to show that the content of the advertisement or label is truthful. I should highlight that there is no presumption of guilt as cases still need to be argued before the Courts. Companies that can defend their claims will, therefore, not be unduly affected. Beyond false advertising, we need to do more to safeguard consumer interest and promote public health.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Minister for National Development, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." AVA administers the Sale of Food Act (SOFA) as part of our comprehensive food safety regime to ensure that food sold in Singapore is safe and suitable for consumption. The SOFA was last amended in 2002. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Lim Biow Chuan) in the Chair] Besides ensuring food safety, we also need to better regulate food labelling and advertising to promote public health and ensure that consumers get the right information to make informed choices. Today, we are seeing more innovative products entering the market, some of which are purported to give health benefits. Therefore, it is important for consumers to be provided with adequate and accurate information about the products they are consuming. In addition, the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS)'s market inquiry into formula milk concluded that companies competed mainly on building a premium brand image for their products through aggressive marketing. CCS also found that there is an insufficient understanding of the nutritional benefits of formula milk and the dietary requirements of infants and young children could have led some parents to perceive that the more expensive products were of higher quality. In May 2017, the Government formed a Taskforce, which I chair, to address some of these issues that were raised by CCS. The Taskforce has facilitated the entry of more affordable options, strengthened public education efforts and encouraged hospitals to provide more support for breastfeeding as the preferred option. Parents have welcomed the positive impact of such measures.”
“There is a slight increase in incidence of such electric fires, partly also because of the increasing adoption of devices like these. This is something that we can ask SPRING to have a look at.”
“There is a specific list of items that are included. I do not see batteries as being listed but that is something that I am sure SPRING Singapore can take a look at to see if batteries need or ought to be included as well. Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong: Is SPRING Singapore actually looking into this issue because the number of incidents of fires caused by batteries charging overnight for PMDs is increasing.”
“Mr Speaker, the whole concept of EUP is meant to be largely a ground-up kind of initiative where residents within the estate actually give the inputs as to how they want to see their estates developed. So, regardless of the mechanism, the idea is that the current working mechanism comprising a working committee largely made up of the residents who are staying there, who are members of the Neighbourhood Committee, who know the estate very well, working closely with the implementing agents, as well as the consultants to walk the ground, to give feedback. That is the reason why the whole entire consultation process can take up to several months before actual groundbreaking starts. Just for my own estate, over the last few weeks, we have been walking the ground with the various agencies to understand the concerns of residents and take in their feedback as well. So, regardless of the mechanism, the present-day mechanism where ground feedback is taken into account, really is a good way in which residents' concerns are taken on board.”
“Mr Speaker, I believe this question has been asked by the same Member in a previous Sitting and I will just repeat the key points, that the CCC is involved in ground engagement, because the Working Committee comprises members of the Neighbourhood Committee, who are residents within the estate themselves, as part of the ground consultation. And I did reply to the Member in the previous Sitting that when the works and the timeline have been settled, we will also notify the MPs for the area to tell them of the existing plans.”
“Mr Speaker, let me just address the Member's concerns. For private estates, I understand that the Member faces those constraints that he has described. But actually, if there are any existing issues that require emergency attention, for example, drains that are not in good order, then we can look at how we can best address these as emergency repair works in the meantime. The Member is right to say that Batch 10 has previously asked for nominations, and I remember we did send a letter to notify the Advisers of each of the wards that have previously been asked to do so, that there has been a review of public sector projects to be implemented, so that we can make sure that the demand for construction workers and also the total number of workers in Singapore can be better managed. In that sense, Batch 10 has been deferred somewhat. But in May this year, we have actually just approved all the Batch 9 projects. So, the Batch 9 projects are currently undergoing consultations and they will be implemented over the next couple of years or so. So, we are trying to pace out some of these works to make sure that we have a good completion of Batch 9 projects, together with some of the existing projects from Batches 6 to 8 that have rolled over as well. In existence, there are 17 projects to be managed on the ground. Once we have a clearer idea of when these projects are nearing their completion, we can then look at how we can reactivate nominations for Batch 10 again. But in the interim, if there are really areas that the Member feels that need to be repaired urgently, do let the agencies know and we will see how best to manage those at the moment.”
“Mr Speaker, we will invite the Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) to make nominations for Batch 10 of the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) when we have a firm implementation timeline. There are currently 17 ongoing EUP projects from various Batches island-wide, including nine of the most recent Batch 9 projects that have just been approved. We would like to complete some of these ongoing projects first before calling for new nominations. This will allow us to devote more requisite resources to better manage current projects and to ensure that new projects will be well-managed as well. Typically, it takes about eight to 10 months to evaluate nominations before announcing the selected estates. But the exact duration depends on the number of nominations that we receive and the completeness of each application. Using Batch 9 as an example, we received 55 nominations that took us about eight months to evaluate. During this time, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and agencies assessed the scope of the potential upgrading works, conducted site visits to assess the on-ground conditions, and considered how best to dovetail the works with the agencies’ other improvement plans.”
“Mdm Speaker, as more retailers or malls participate in such a scheme, it will make it even better and more viable for Singapore, as an island, logistically, and we welcome more malls to participate in such events. Eventually, once we are able to roll this out, we will engage more mall operators to get them on board.”
“Mdm Speaker, the numbers that I gave earlier on the increase of 0.5% to 1.5% are actually CPI-All Items inflation. I do not have the numbers for core inflation that the Member is asking for.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to reassure the Member that the Government does take this seriously and is monitoring. We will, as far as possible, smoothen out some of these increases, wherever possible. The difficulty, of course, is that oil prices and gas prices are not really within our control and we have to adjust as and when these prices start to fluctuate globally. On the question about whether the 0.2 percentage-point increase includes some of the rebates and Government subsidies, the answer is no. Let me just explain this. There are a few ways we can help to offset some of these. One, of course, is to stagger the price increases, and as Members would remember, the water tariffs are increased over two tranches: the first tranche will be in July this year, and the next increment will be in July next year. It is broken up into two phases to offset the steepness of the increase. The U-Save rebates are not taken into account in the CPI calculations, as these are actually given to households as a lump sum to be utilised over a few months. The rebates are treated as some form of income transfer. They do not directly reduce the price of the individual product per se, such as the water tariff, for example. Therefore, they do not get calculated as part of the CPI adjustments. Therefore, when you look at the top-line adjustments for CPI, bear in mind that hidden behind it, there is also some form of U-Save rebates, for example, that are not captured in the adjustment. So, for households that receive rebates, the impact for them will be much less than what is reported.”
“In the past, we do have such a scheme. Today, we are hoping to encourage them to move on to, say, an established 2-room flexi flat so that we can keep the rental stock for other needy tenants.”
“Madam, is the Member asking about whether existing rental tenants can convert their rental flat into a home-owned one?”
“Madam, the Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) public rental flats cater to households with no viable housing options or family support. In the last 10 years, an average of 3,000 households a year were successful in their applications for rental flats. Of these, an average of 2,600 households a year decided to move into HDB rental flats, with the remainder cancelling their rental request, for example, because they have found alternative housing options. Households request for rental flats for a variety of reasons, such as inability to afford a flat, perhaps it is a divorce, loss of employment or medical issues. It will be difficult and not meaningful to break down rental requests by reason, as a household may have multiple overlapping reasons for an application for a public rental flat. Of these households, about 1,600 have returned their rental flats to HDB and now have their own home ownership flats. There are about a million HDB flats, of which about 56,000 are rental flats, comprising a mix of 1- and 2-room apartments.”
“Madam, I assure the Member that the Government is keeping a close eye on this and we will continue to watch how this price trend goes. CCS is also keeping an eye and seeing how they can ensure that there is no price fixing, that there is also fair competition in the market.”
“Madam, for specific groups of children with specific needs, for example, special dietary concerns, this is where we can work closely with the hospitals to see if they can find a way of getting more options and provide some of these in a much more affordable way for the children. Also, at the community level, there are ways we can help these families as well, outside the schemes from Government. For example, most of us would have ComCare funds we can use or even Community Development and Welfare Fund (CDWF) that we can also mobilise for short-term support, while the hospital tries to sort out how they can help these specific children with needs. Pre-term infants who require special formulas are a different category altogether but, fortunately, they are not the bulk of the kind of infants that we have to take care of. So, on a case-by-case basis, we can look at how to assist them.”
“Madam, the answer to the first question is yes. Milk powder for infants' full cream milk powder and other milk powder, even skimmed milk powder are already included in the CPI basket for this category of food. For the second question, the report on Household Expenditure Survey 2012-2013 published by the Department of Statistics contains data on average monthly household expenditure by household living arrangements, such as by the age group of the head of the household, the number of children in the family, and the age of the youngest child, as well as by household income group. So, there is some data that we already have. This data can be used to study and understand the expenditure of different types of households, including households with younger heads of family as well as young children. The Government will closely monitor the cost of raising children in Singapore using some of these data and evaluate whether there is a need to compile specific price indices for households in this segment. But let us also understand that expenditure is very much influenced by consumer choices and consumer behaviour. Therefore, this is where I go back to the point about educating our parents to understand that expensive does not mean it is better; cheaper does not mean it is worse. There should be no guilt on the parents' part about buying the cheaper brand of milk. As long as your child can get used to the milk, or they are not suffering from any allergic reaction to that particular brand of milk, there is no real reason to really pay out more when there is something that is just as good and much cheaper. This is where education needs to play a role to help households rationalise their expenditure.”
“Madam, AVA is reviewing the import requirements and some of the regulations. And we hope that by end of the year, we would be able to make some of these changes. If there are any changes to, for example, regulations, we will also need a little bit of time to engage vendors so that they have the "go-ahead" to go and bring in some of these new products. So, by end of this year, we hope to be able to finalise some of these changes.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for her clarification questions. In terms of setting a price for special formulas, children who have specific needs for which normal milk formula cannot fulfil, for example, specific allergies or medical conditions, will, therefore, require more expensive formula feeds because of the special formulation required. It will be quite difficult for us to restrict a particular formula for its price, because there is definitely a research and development expenditure that the company has to incur. What we can do is to make sure that we increase the choices that are available and, where necessary, put in the necessary financial support to these families to defray the cost of such formula that they require. But hopefully, these are a more restricted group of infants. For the larger group of infants that require formula feeding, for which breastfeeding is not an option, then I think this is where we need to educate our consumers as well, that despite whatever pricing strategy that they have on the generic formula, or despite whatever claims there may be, all formulas actually fulfil the minimum nutritional requirements and are, in fact, just as equally adequate. There is also a big range of milk formula pricing on the shelves today. Some can go for about $20-plus to $30 for a 900-gramme tin, and others can go up to about $60. So, within this range, parents do have a choice. And I think this is where education of the parents to allay their anxiety that they are not shortchanging their children by giving them the cheaper option, because the cheaper option, nutritionally, is just as good as the more expensive ones. And this is where we can introduce the much more robust and healthier competition within the market by removing the information asymmetry.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for his concern for the chickens but let me just put things in context. We are in an area where we are at risk of bird flu and I think Members will remember the news last month, 5 March, that there was a bird flu outbreak close to home in Kelantan affecting six districts and 30-over areas within that district. To date, the Malaysian authorities have released a report to say they have culled 56,953 chickens. This definitely has an economic impact from the Malaysian side. Being so close to home, AVA takes a risk-based approach to mitigate the risk to our own country, to our own people. In reducing the number of chickens, AVA takes an assessment on the ground, not necessarily based on the number of complaints or feedback per se. But if the numbers are high enough for us to take pre-emptive action, regardless of any number of feedback, we will have to take action to reduce the risk. We have to understand that this is not just about the chickens, it is also about public safety and human health. At the end of the day, AVA also has a responsibility towards the health and safety of Singaporeans.”
“Madam, following feedback from residents on the presence of significant numbers of free-roaming chickens in Sungei Api Api, AVA did a check and found that there were more than 100 chickens in the area. Hence, AVA had taken actions to remove some of the free-roaming chickens to better manage the bird flu risk. This was done at around the same time as the operations in the Sin Ming Avenue area. And although there is a recent news report that gave the impression this happened after my reply to the Parliamentary Question, this was not the case. The vaccination of free-roaming chickens alone may not be an effective solution to manage the bird flu risk. There are many bird flu strains and the virus has been known to mutate. While bird flu vaccinations can provide some partial protection against certain strains, the vaccinated chickens can still be infected by other strains that are not covered by the vaccination, particularly since the free-roaming chickens are free to interact and make contact with other wildlife. Moreover, the chickens will continue to reproduce in the wild and their chicks will not be protected by the same vaccination given to the adult chicken. Through research studies and public engagement efforts, AVA aims to enhance its management of animal populations, including the free-roaming chickens. AVA will involve stakeholders like academics, wildlife experts, the community and animal welfare groups in exploring various approaches and solutions to this problem.”
“Madam, in my reply, I did not say that the consumer cannot feedback to MTI or any of the Government agencies, even through the REACH portal, for example. They can do so. But CASE, as an organisation that helps to educate consumers, plays an important role here in helping consumers to understand their purchasing power as consumers and to be able to exercise that. That, in itself, is a good signal to the business community to price their products in a reasonable way.”
“Madam, I think the previous committee on profiteering was set up in response to a more broad-based increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which affects all goods and services where it can then lead to a very broad-based impact on overall costs. This water price increase is very targeted. It affects business segments more than others, and even in the retail services sector, as I have said earlier, the cost increase is not expected to be more than 1% or 2%. So, we do not expect a broad-based impact on the actual costs of businesses. We will continue to keep a watchful eye on how this will impact, say, after the price goes up in July. Secondly, the Competition Commission looks at anti-competitive behaviour, not necessarily to look at profiteering. Businesses all need to make profits, and it is very hard to prove what exactly is over-profiteering because businesses must take into account the cost of their business as well. Rental price will increase over these few months and that leads businesses to increase the price of their products and services. If we were to impose certain restrictions on that, then we are going to make it difficult for businesses to price their products accordingly, to take their costs into account.”
“Madam, I think we are making an assumption that the price will increase after July, which is in the future. At this point in time, let us not prejudge the businesses' behaviour. And if it so happens then, then I think this is where CASE's hotline, website and mobile apps will be available for feedback to be received.”
“Madam, I would like to say that sweeping statements like this saying that all coffee shops will raise prices just because one shop raises it, is not fair to all retailers because I think there are also retailers that came out and said that they would not increase their prices. For example, in an article published in TODAY newspaper on 23 February 2017, in response to the increase in water prices, several coffee chains here, including Toast Box and Ya Kun Toast, have said that they would not increase their prices in the near term. So, I think there are different pricing strategies by retailers. We should not make sweeping statements here to say that just because one coffee shop increases its price, every other coffee shop would necessarily follow suit. And if they do so, then I think consumers should make their choices and decide whom to patronise.”
“Madam, pertaining to the issue of coffee price increase which I think both Members are asking about in the neighbourhood shops, it is quite easy to understand that the cost of coffee is not just on water alone. There are other issues that businesses cope with, like rental costs, workers' cost, as well as their pricing strategy. Price increases can happen with or without an increase in water price, and businesses do make their calculated decisions on how to price their product. In that sense, this is where education on consumers' rights and choices is also important. Coffee can range from a simple 3-in-1 that you buy as a packet or it can be as expensive as a latte. So, in between, the price range is quite huge and businesses do make their decisions on how to price the price of a cup of coffee. Consumers, therefore, have to make a choice to also encourage businesses to price the product to be sustainable in terms of getting the right customers. If there is a need to feedback, they can send it to CASE, and if CASE feels that there is sufficient indication that there is a consistent amount of complaints coming in about one particular retailer, then we can look at how best to facilitate further investigations.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for her clarification question. As I had said earlier in my reply, there are various avenues to feed back to CASE, either through their hotline, mobile app or website.”
“The most sustainable strategy for businesses to manage cost increases and stay competitive is to transform by upgrading capabilities for higher levels of productivity and innovation. Our SMEs can approach any of the 12 SME Centres for customised service and advice on business development and how they can tap on Government assistance to strengthen their businesses. In particular, SPRING's Capability Development Grant (CDG) provides support for SMEs in building capabilities to grow their businesses by defraying up to 70% of the qualifying project costs. Through the Local Enterprise and the Association Development (LEAD) scheme, SPRING also works with our Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) to strengthen their internal capabilities and the roles they can play in driving industry transformation and growth.”
“Madam, the measures on water tariffs, diesel and carbon tax announced at Budget 2017 are targeted and are expected to have a moderate impact on overall business costs, with the impact differentiated across different industries. Utilities cost, which includes water and electricity costs, accounts for a relatively small share of business costs for firms in the services sector, at less than 1%, on average, for most services industries. Electricity prices are revised every quarter according to prevailing gas prices, which are indexed to global oil prices. There has been a general decline in our electricity tariffs over the past three years due to the low global oil price. The current electricity tariff is around 16.9% lower than that in the second quarter of 2014. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) will step up its education efforts to encourage consumers to exercise their choice and make informed purchasing decisions. Consumers can opt to buy from businesses which continue to offer competitive prices and products that cater to their consumption preferences. CASE will also keep watch on price increases and look into feedback on alleged profiteering. Consumers who wish to provide feedback can go through CASE's hotline, website or mobile app. They can also do so through Government feedback channels, such as the feedback unit Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (REACH). Hence, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) does not see the need to set up a committee to look into profiteering at this point. Madam, the Government will continue to monitor the impact of the Budget 2017 measures on industries and calibrate our economic support policies as appropriate.”
“With regard to Interim Judgment for divorce cases − before the Final Judgment has been imposed, it will be hard to decide at that point in time who gets full care and control of the child. Therefore, it is very hard at that point in time to allow application for a flat. Also, sometimes the judge also determines who gets the matrimonial home, or the two parties may decide the way they want to split the assets. Therefore, until the judgment is finalised and assets are well split, it is very hard to then allow the applicants to apply for a flat. As for whether we want to consider a single unwed parent with a child as a family nucleus, as I said in my reply, HDB does take a very flexible approach to assess each case on a case-by-case basis and to apply flexibility. For the Love Cats project, once the agencies, after engagement with stakeholders, have an interim review to engage the animal welfare groups further, we will release the outcome. For wildlife inspectors, today, in this day and age where technology is available, we should not just talk about more body counts, more people on the ground. We should consider how we can leverage technologies to multiply the effects of people and perhaps also work closely with the animal welfare groups to be our eyes and ears on the ground as well to help in nabbing offenders. So, I think we should take a broader approach rather than just look at employing more wildlife inspectors.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We would not be doing EUP at the moment. In fact, we are progressing with Batch Nine at the moment. The budget has been allocated for up to 10 batches. So, once we start with Batch Nine, we will then come up with a decent time for starting on Batch 10. But if there are any estate areas that need urgent repairs because of wear and tear, then this is where I said that you can ask for ad hoc repairs at the moment.”