In conjunction with the presidential election on 1 September 2023, the Elections Department (ELD) has updated its “Advisory Guidelines on the Application of the Personal Data Protection Act to Election Activities” on 28 July 2023.
Separately, on 31 July 2023, the ELD issued an advisory to candidates and political parties on potential cyberthreats and the corresponding preventive measures.
On 16 August 2023, the Health Sciences Authority issued two retail-level recalls for batches of Apo-Amitriptyline and Apo-Acyclovir tablets. The recalls were initiated after impurities at levels above acceptable standards were detected.
On 26 July 2023, the Ministry of Health launched the Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 for healthcare. The ITM 2025 refreshes the ITM for healthcare, which was first launched in 2017.
ITM 2025 focuses on four main areas: (i) strengthening Singapore’s research and innovation ecosystem; (ii) strengthening digital system enablers; (iii) attracting and retaining healthcare workers; and (iv) strengthening partnerships.
The Ministry of Planning and Finance issued the Customs Rules relating to Protection of Trade Mark Rights (Notification No. 50/2023) (“Customs Rules”), which took effect from 14 July 2023.
The Customs Rules set out the requirements and procedure with respect to the recordal of trade mark rights with the Myanmar Customs, as well as the suspension order against the release of counterfeit goods depicting unauthorized marks into free circulation.
On 13 July 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) issued several notices to retailers and online sellers of products for children on the safety hazards posed by magnetic ball toys, water beads and electric toys containing button batteries that are improperly secured.
The CPSO stated that these products must not be supplied or sold if marketed directly or indirectly as a toy for children under 14 years old. Where consumers are reasonably able to infer that the product is a toy from the packaging, the packaging must clearly state that the product is not suitable for children below 14 years old, with at least one such statement in English.
Phase 2 of the voluntary notification for health supplements and traditional medicines will commence on 1 August 2023. The scope of the present voluntary notification for health supplements and traditional medicines will be expanded to cover more types of health supplements and traditional medicines.
On 17 July 2023, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) proposed the new regulation for active ingredients under the Health Products Act.
Against the increasing complexity in the manufacturing and supply chain of active ingredients, streamlined and risk-based regulatory controls will ensure that active ingredients consistently meet appropriate quality standards. The HSA has therefore seen the need to consolidate and enhance regulatory controls for active ingredients under the Health Products Act.
On 27 July 2023, the Ministry of Health announced the rebranding of Singapore’s health tech agency, formerly known as the Integrated Health Information Systems to Synapxe.
The Ministry of Health also outlined five key priorities of Synapxe, namely: (i) national repository for patients’ medical records; (ii) system for remote healthcare; (iii) national billing system; (iv) strong cyber and data security; and (v) looking into the future and exploring possibilities, such as generative artificial intelligence.
On 18 July 2023, the PDPC issued two public consultation papers, seeking views on: (a) the proposed clarifications on how the PDPA applies to the collection and use of personal data to develop and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) systems that embed machine learning models used to make decisions, recommendations or predictions; and (b) the proposed Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for children’s personal data, covering issues such as obtaining children’s consent, using children’s personal data and according higher standards of protection to children’s personal data.
In a recent decision by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) in Re Fullerton Healthcare Group Pte Limited and Agape CP Holdings Pte Ltd [2023] SGPDPC 5, the PDPC found that the respondents breached the protection obligation under the Personal Data Protection Act and ordered each of them to pay a financial penalty.