Proposal for Supermarkets to Ensure Consistency between Posted and Barcoded Prices and Code of Practice to offer Product at Discounted Posted Price

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether supermarkets in Singapore are required to ensure consistency between their posted prices and scanned/barcoded prices; and (b) whether there is any code of practice required of local supermarkets to offer the product at the discounted posted price (or for free) as is practised in countries such as Australia and Canada.

Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (“CPFTA”), a deliberate act by any business to advertise its product or service at a price that is lower than what the supplier intends to sell could amount to an unfair practice which can be investigated by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS). We do not, however, have regulations that govern or punish genuine mistakes. Consumers can approach the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) to seek assistance to resolve any dispute or file a claim at the Small Claims Tribunal. Businesses can also refer to the Guidelines on Price Transparency published by CCCS for actions that suppliers should take to ensure that prices are accurate and communicated clearly, as well as good practices that suppliers should adopt to minimise potential disputes with consumers.