Amendments to the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA)
CPFTA于2004年3月1日生效，旨在制定公平贸易立法，以促进公平和公平的贸易环境或市场。零售业是新加坡经济的重要组成部分，也是旅游收入的重要来源。为了保护当地人和游客的利益，促进零售商之间的公平贸易文化非常重要。
Originally the CPFTA was mooted as part of the efforts to weed out errant traders, however the loopholes within the legislation failed to substantially and adequately safeguard consumer interests.
The consumers affected by any of the unfair trade practices listed in the Act can seek civil remedies by approaching the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE). Tourists affected by deceitful trading practices must approach the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The remedial measures are purely civil remedies and will not lead to any criminal sanctions against the traders. However according to the latest amendments, the failure to comply with the requirements of court will amount to criminal offence.
以前的规定中存在漏洞，妨碍执行合规。一些顽固的零售商继续欺骗顾客。大多数情况下，他们会关闭被起诉的公司，成立一家新公司，以新身份继续他们的错误交易行为。在这种情况下，该法没有达到其目的。因此，该修正案于2016年5月提出，最终于2016年9月通过了《2016年消费者保护（公平交易）（修正）法案》。最新的修正案加强了该法案的力度，以打击不法零售商。工业贸易部（MTI）审查了修正案，修正案是在详细征求公众意见后颁布的。对该法作出的两项关键修正案将很快生效。
必须指出的是，案件仍然是受影响客户寻求申诉补偿的主要联络点（对于游客来说，是新加坡旅游局）。该案将继续调查投诉，并就有罪零售商的赔偿进行谈判。如果错误的零售商继续持续从事营私舞弊欺骗客户，案例将通知SPRING采取进一步行动，但是，错误的零售商可以与CASE签订自愿合规协议（VCA），以停止此类不合规行为，继续遵守VCA将防止升级到SPRING。
A list of 24 unfair practices is provided in the second schedule of the Act. This provides greater clarity as to what constitutes unfair practices. The list covers acts that are related to making false statements or misrepresentation, omission of details, overpricing, pressure tactics to sell, not issuing a copy of documents to the customer upon request, not supplying goods/services after accepting payment etc.
It is of interest to evaluate the protection available to consumers who buy online. It has been stated that the Act’s provisions will also protect the online consumer. However, when online transactions are cross-border in nature, involving overseas retailers or suppliers, the Act may not have the powers to extend protection to the customers. Therefore realizing the significance of consumer awareness the government is educating consumers about the need for making well-informed decisions and to scrutinize the sellers offering before making any transaction.
It must be noted that while the Act allows only civil remedies, the police may still charge the retailer under other criminal legislation, if the particular transaction involved offences that are criminal in nature. The objective is to uphold the rights of the consumer and to improve transparency and legitimacy in trading practices. Genuine retailers who comply with the applicable laws, should not be affected by the amendments.
The consumers affected by any of the unfair trade practices listed in the Act can seek civil remedies by approaching the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE). Tourists affected by deceitful trading practices must approach the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The remedial measures are purely civil remedies and will not lead to any criminal sanctions against the traders. However according to the latest amendments, the failure to comply with the requirements of court will amount to criminal offence.
背景
定期审查该法案，以确保其在不断变化的环境中的相关性。这些修正案的提出是为了剔除一些长期藐视规则的零售商。尽管只有一小部分零售商奉行不公平的交易做法，但最近一段时间，顽固的零售商出现了一股热潮，特别是涉及预付产品/服务，如水疗服务、健身中心、旅游服务和婚礼服务。当涉及游客时，不公平贸易行为的影响更严重，新加坡的品牌形象受到不利影响，当此类事件传播开来时，真正的零售商和企业也受到影响。以前的规定中存在漏洞，妨碍执行合规。一些顽固的零售商继续欺骗顾客。大多数情况下，他们会关闭被起诉的公司，成立一家新公司，以新身份继续他们的错误交易行为。在这种情况下，该法没有达到其目的。因此，该修正案于2016年5月提出，最终于2016年9月通过了《2016年消费者保护（公平交易）（修正）法案》。最新的修正案加强了该法案的力度，以打击不法零售商。工业贸易部（MTI）审查了修正案，修正案是在详细征求公众意见后颁布的。对该法作出的两项关键修正案将很快生效。
SPRING empowered as enforcement agency
SPRING Singapore has now been empowered with investigative and enforcement powers by virtue of the latest changes to the Act. The agency can investigate the errant retailers and gather evidence. It can file for an injunction against the guilty retailers. SPRING can enforce the retailers to comply by the injunction orders issued by the court.有限公司urt can issue additional orders
In order to ensure that the customers are aware of the injunction and to enable them to make an informed decision on purchases, the court may require the errant retailer to prominently publicize that it is under injunction. In addition, in order to clamp down on circumventing practices of setting up new commercial entities, to continue unscrupulous trading practices, the court may require the errant retailer to notify SPRING on any changes to the entity. In the case of guilty individuals they have to notify SPRING of any changes in their employment status. This helps to ensure that the guilty retailers are continuously tracked and that they comply with the injunction orders and any other relevant requirements.必须指出的是，案件仍然是受影响客户寻求申诉补偿的主要联络点（对于游客来说，是新加坡旅游局）。该案将继续调查投诉，并就有罪零售商的赔偿进行谈判。如果错误的零售商继续持续从事营私舞弊欺骗客户，案例将通知SPRING采取进一步行动，但是，错误的零售商可以与CASE签订自愿合规协议（VCA），以停止此类不合规行为，继续遵守VCA将防止升级到SPRING。
A list of 24 unfair practices is provided in the second schedule of the Act. This provides greater clarity as to what constitutes unfair practices. The list covers acts that are related to making false statements or misrepresentation, omission of details, overpricing, pressure tactics to sell, not issuing a copy of documents to the customer upon request, not supplying goods/services after accepting payment etc.
It is of interest to evaluate the protection available to consumers who buy online. It has been stated that the Act’s provisions will also protect the online consumer. However, when online transactions are cross-border in nature, involving overseas retailers or suppliers, the Act may not have the powers to extend protection to the customers. Therefore realizing the significance of consumer awareness the government is educating consumers about the need for making well-informed decisions and to scrutinize the sellers offering before making any transaction.
It must be noted that while the Act allows only civil remedies, the police may still charge the retailer under other criminal legislation, if the particular transaction involved offences that are criminal in nature. The objective is to uphold the rights of the consumer and to improve transparency and legitimacy in trading practices. Genuine retailers who comply with the applicable laws, should not be affected by the amendments.