Consumer protection Act gets more teeth; Spring to be its administrator

Singapore

PARLIAMENT has given the green light for changes to boost the law that protects consumers and promotes fair trading among businesses.

The passing of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday will make Spring Singapore the administrator for the Act with investigation and enforcement powers.

It will also close the loopholes that in particular allow some errant businesses to side-step injunction orders by closing their businesses and setting up new ones.

"In drafting the Bill, we have taken great care to ensure that it is both pro-consumer and business- friendly," Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon said in moving the Bill. "The legislation is just one part of our consumer protection regime. Consumer education is the othe…