Govt to review rule for wet-market stalls to show prices of produce
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Wet-market stallholders may no longer have to display price lists, Dr Amy Khor said in Parliament yesterday, noting that the feedback from businesses is that it is challenging to do this given that prices of produce fluctuate daily.
Dr Khor, Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources, was responding to questions from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera on whether it is compulsory for such stallholders to display prices prominently, and how the ministry enforces it.
All stallholders are required to do this now as part of their licence conditions, Dr Khor said, but in cases when it is not feasible to indicate fixed prices, such as when market prices fluctuate on a daily basis, stallholders may indicate a price range instead.
The authorities are now looking into revising this requirement. She added, “Regardless of the requirement, it is a good practice for stallholders to be transparent about their prices, so that consumers will have greater peace of mind when patronising them and can make more informed choices.”
Last year, the National Environment Agency issued verbal advisories to more than 110 market stallholders to display their prices. Most of the stallholders had cooperated, she said.
On Mr Perera’s question on whether there are plans to put up posters to educate consumers about the expected display of prices, or to set up a service line for them to call if stallholders consistently do not show price lists, Dr Khor replied that there are already place managers to monitor this.
“Anyone is free to contact us to give feedback on (this matter) and any other issues with regard to hawker centres ... We will do more in terms of reaching out and educating them through our place managers,” she said. TOH EE MING
