On 3 January 2023, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued an update on products found and reported by overseas regulators to contain potent ingredients that are prohibited and may cause side effects. The HSA published a consolidated list of health products that were found and reported by health regulators overseas (including regulators in Brunei, Canada and Hong Kong) to contain potent ingredients.
In December 2022, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) detected potent ingredients in products marketed for young children and alerted the public against purchasing them. The HSA also published information on a retail-level recall in respect of an oral solution.
As part of its efforts to offer enterprise users and their vendors better guidance on deploying Internet of Things technologies, the Info-communications Media Development Authority has published Annex C: Case Study on Smart Buildings (informative) to the IoT Cyber Security Guide. Annex C provides a starting point for businesses in the Facilities Management industry with smart systems to reevaluate their cybersecurity needs and infrastructure.
In May 2022, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was launched between Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam. On account of its specified focus on labor standards and issues, IPEF is likely to have an ongoing impact on labor regulations and trends among partner countries, including Vietnam.
The Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries Code of Conduct has been amended to include key principles when interacting with patients and patient organizations. The revisions are effective from 1 January 2023.
Article 11, which previously only expressly governed interactions between SAPI-represented pharmaceutical companies (Member Companies) and patient organizations, has been revised to include Member Companies’ interactions with patients. The amended Article 11.1 sets out the key principles to be adhered to when interacting with patients and patient organizations.
The Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries has released a set of guiding principles for patient support programs (PSPs). These guiding principles provide guidance on how PSPs should be designed.
In the recent decision of Goh Ngak Eng v Public Prosecutor [2022] SGHC 254, the Singapore High Court declined to employ the existing sentencing framework for private sector corruption offences involving agents under section 6 of the PCA as set out in Takaaki Masui v. Public Prosecutor and another appeal and other matters [2021] 4 SLR 160.
Section 6 of the PCA criminalizes the actions of agents who corruptly receive or give gratification as an inducement or reward for performing or withholding performance in relation to their principal’s affairs or business.
In developing a new framework, the High Court cautioned that the sentencing exercise is not meant to be seen as a mathematical equation; sentencing frameworks are only meant to serve as guides and should not be used to produce a mathematically precise formula that identifies a precise point for the sentencing court to arrive at in each case.
On 16 December 2022, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore commenced proceedings in the State Courts against a retailer that sells alkaline water systems and its director. In particular, the CCCS applied for the court to make findings that the retailer engaged in unfair trading practices and to issue an injunction to restrain the retailer and its director from continuing such unfair trading practices.
From 30 December 2022, ‘Nutri-Grade’ beverages sold in Singapore in prepacked form and from automatic beverage dispensers will be subject to new labelling requirements and advertising prohibitions. Several drink manufacturers have reportedly reformulated their recipes to cut sugar and saturated fat, and introduced the ‘Nutri-Grade’ labels on the packaging of their products ahead of the deadline.
The Ministry of Manpower, on 23 November 2022, accepted the 12 recommendations proposed by the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers in its report Strengthening Protections For Platform Workers issued on 17 November 2022. The 12 recommendations in the Report aim to provide basic protections to platform workers in the following areas: (i) adequate financial protection in case of work injury, (ii) improved retirement and housing adequacy, and (iii) enhanced representation.