New Food and Safety Bill expands MOH authority for public health promotion

This will enable MOH to independently enforce regulations targeting public health issues.

The Ministry of Health will be able to independently enforce and implement regulations targeting public health issues, such as banning harmful ingredients like trans fats and managing food advertising to discourage unhealthy choices under the newly passed Food Safety and Security Bill.

Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Health said the will contain provisions related to health promotion andn enable the Ministry of Health (MOH) to issue, administer and enforce food-related regulations to promote better health for the general public.

Currently, the MOH taps on the Sale of Food Act 1973 (SOFA) and its subsidiary legislation, the Food Regulations, to make such regulations. Examples include Nutri-Grade labelling and advertising prohibitions for beverages that are higher in sugar and saturated fat, and the ban on trans-fat, which is also known as partially hydrogenated oils or PHOs, in food.  

SOFA will now be repealed and replaced with the new bill, allowing MOH to continue with its current health promotion measures that are in place under SOFA, and to implement additional measures, if needed, to improve population health in the future.

Unlike the SOFA, which required the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment to authorise food-related health regulations, the FSSB consolidates this power under the Minister for Health. This shift allows MOH to independently enforce and implement regulations targeting public health issues, such as banning harmful ingredients like trans fats and managing food advertising to discourage unhealthy choices. Additionally, enforcement officers under the FSSB will have powers to investigate and act against violations, ensuring effective implementation of health-focused food regulations.

Additionally, a new law that aims to bolster Singapore’s food safety regulations and safeguard food security will, amongst other things, enable the stockpiling of more food types, as Singapore moves to deal with an increasingly complex agri-food supply chain and climate change.

The Food Safety and Security Bill, which was passed in Parliament on Jan 8, also spells out stronger maximum penalties for offences involving unsafe food that causes illness, harm and physical injury to consumers.

“The FSSB will allow for clearer delineation of Ministerial responsibilities between the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and the Minister for Health whilst allowing MSE and MOH to regulate the food supply chain for our respective purposes under a common regulatory regime,” Mahzam said.