Regulating or Educating the Public on Digital Marketing Practices for Unhealthy Products Such As Junk Food and E-cigarettes

Prof Lim Sun Sun asked the Minister for Health (a) whether there are plans to regulate the digital marketing of unhealthy products including junk food and e-cigarettes through online platforms that target youths; (b) whether the Ministry collects data on digital marketing of such products to different demographic groups; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider mounting public education campaigns to educate young consumers about such marketing strategies.

Regulations on the marketing of unhealthy products apply to both digital and non-digital media domains.

For example, advertising and promotion of tobacco products such as e-cigarettes is prohibited, including through online platforms.

On unhealthy food, marketing to children has been regulated via the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice, with additional Guidelines for Food Advertising to Children. In addition, the Ministry of Health announced in October 2019 that we will be introducing a product grading system for pre-packaged sugar-sweetened beverages, and will prohibit product advertisements for the least healthy ones on all local mass media platforms, including online channels.

We will look into how we can monitor digital marketing more closely. We also agree with Prof Lim's suggestion to educate young consumers about marketing of unhealthy products, together with like-minded partners.