Affordability of Infant Formula

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) what is being done to ensure that the cost of infant formula remains affordable.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) and international organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), strongly encourage breastfeeding as it can provide the nutritional needs of infants, with the added benefits of promoting mother-child bonding. In some cases, infants cannot be exclusively breastfed and will need infant formula. All infant formula sold in Singapore, regardless of price, meets Singapore's Food Regulations and the nutritional needs for infants to grow healthily.

Some infant formula companies give the impression that their particular brands of milk powder can do more. The scientific evidence for this is weak. Without better information, parents rely on the claims made by infant formula companies or are misled into using price as a proxy for the quality of the product.

Public awareness is important to support parents in deciding what is best for their children. HPB, together with healthcare institutions and healthcare professionals, will get the message out, especially to mothers-to-be.

All hospitals, both public and private, encourage and support breastfeeding. They will provide infant formula when needed. The Ministry of Health (MOH) will work with industry players to make available more infant formula options in hospitals to enhance market competition.

All public hospitals offering maternity services are already Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)-certified today, but private hospitals have yet to come on board. BFHI-certified hospitals are committed to actively encourage and support breastfeeding targets and are not allowed to enter into sponsorship arrangements with milk powder companies.

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) recently completed a market study which examined the formula milk industry in Singapore and the nature of competition at each level of the supply chain. It will publish its report this week. Should there be any evidence of companies acting in concert to increase prices together, CCS will investigate the anti-competitive behaviour under the Competition Act.

There are several measures that can be taken together to encourage greater price competition among brands. The Government will simplify and streamline import requirements, as well as remove unnecessary barriers to entry, in order to bring in more options for parents, without compromising food safety.

HPB is supporting a review of the Sale of Infant Food Ethics Committee, Singapore Code of Ethics, which will include extending its coverage to all infant formula for infants up to 12 months of age. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will tighten its regulations on labelling and advertising further.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry and other Government agencies, such as MOH, HPB and AVA, will increase consumer awareness, encourage good practices in hospitals, facilitate more formula milk options, and further tighten regulations on labelling and advertising. The Consumers Association of Singapore will also remind businesses to price their products fairly and look into consumer feedback on potential profiteering.