Debated in Parliament on 5 Aug 2026.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) (a) over the past five years, how many beauty and wellness businesses have been subject to enforcement action under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act for pressure selling or unfair practices involving prepaid packages; and (b) whether the current enforcement regime sufficiently deters repeat offenders.
Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, it is an unfair practice for businesses to exert undue pressure or influence on a consumer to enter a transaction. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) may investigate and take enforcement actions against businesses that engage in egregious unfair practices and, where appropriate, seek Court declarations and injunctions to stop such practices.
From 2022 to date, the CCS has taken action against 15 businesses in the beauty and wellness sector for engaging in pressure selling or other unfair practices involving prepaid packages. Of these, 13 businesses provided undertakings to CCS to cease the identified unfair practices, implement appropriate remedial actions and cooperate with CCS's monitoring measures. CCS obtained injunctions against the remaining two businesses, whose conduct warranted a stronger regulatory response.
The Government takes a serious view of businesses that engage in unfair practices. In addition to enforcement measures, such as the issuance of undertakings and Court injunctions, businesses that continue to persist in their unfair practices and breach the Court orders can be liable for contempt proceedings.
We are closely monitoring the incidence of cases and effectiveness of these measures as part of our review of the enforcement framework to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and provides sufficient deterrence against egregious businesses.
PAPERCUTS