Debated in Parliament on 19 Sep 2023.
Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether the Ministry will consider working with the industry to have a centralised platform for funeral service providers to register their LED wreaths to ensure that the number of LED wreaths delivered to each wake adheres to the guidelines.
In June 2022, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Association of Funeral Directors Singapore co-developed and issued the guidelines on the use of light-emitting wreaths and inflatables at funeral wakes. The guidelines include a limit on the number of such wreaths per wake, where they can be placed and the hours they are allowed to be turned on. NEA had worked with stakeholders to promulgate the guidelines through the terms and conditions of permits for wakes held in public spaces.
Funeral service providers have generally been compliant with the guidelines. From June 2022 to July 2023, the number of feedback received by NEA has decreased from eight feedback per month to an average of three feedback per month.
NEA has no plans to set up a centralised platform at this time and will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to monitor the situation and to promote compliance with the guidelines.
PAPERCUTS