TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ACT, 1968, OF UNITED KINGDOM (Introduction of similar legislation in Singapore)

Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing legislation similar to the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, of the United Kingdom.

Mr Tang See Chim (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has made a study of the United Kingdom Trade Descriptions Act. 1968, and feels there is no immediate need to introduce similar legislation in Singapore. General principles embodied in the United Kingdom Act, particularly those provisions prohibiting misdescription or counterfeiting of goods, are already covered by the following Singapore Ordinances:

(1) Trade Marks Ordinance;

(2) Merchandise Marks Ordinance; and

(3) Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance.

As far as the new provisions are concerned, such as false or misleading indications as to the price of goods and the power given to United Kingdom officials to impose requirements in the description of goods in advertisements, and the power to assign meanings to certain expressions, it is considered too early at present to decide whether to incorporate them into our law, since our existing laws are working fairly efficiently and are adequate to deal with the situation. The Government would therefore prefer to wait and see how the new legislation works out in the United Kingdom so that if we eventually decide to incorporate the new provisions into our own law, we would have the benefit of their experience.