Statute Details
- Title: Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Act / Authorising Legislation: Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002 (Act 34 of 2002)
- Authorising Power: Section 17(4) of the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002
- SL Citation: SL 178/2003
- Date Made: 29 March 2003
- Commencement: 15 April 2003
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the platform display)
- Core Legal Effect: Exempts specified regulated persons from paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 (Billing Practices) of the MDA Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services (G.N. No. S 177/2003)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003 is a targeted regulatory instrument. Rather than creating a new regulatory regime, it grants a narrow exemption from specific “billing practices” requirements found in the Media Development Authority’s Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services.
In plain terms, the Notification recognises that certain regulated persons—here, two major media organisations—should not be bound by particular billing-related paragraphs in the Code of Practice. The exemption is not general: it is confined to paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 of the Code, which deal specifically with billing practices. Everything else in the Code of Practice (and other applicable legal requirements) remains relevant to the exempted parties.
For practitioners, the key point is that this Notification operates as a “carve-out” from compliance obligations. It is therefore essential to read it together with the underlying Code of Practice (G.N. No. S 177/2003) and to identify exactly which obligations are removed for the named entities.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and commencement (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the formal citation and sets the commencement date. The Notification may be cited as the “Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003” and comes into operation on 15 April 2003. For compliance and enforcement purposes, this date matters because it determines when the exemption became effective.
2. Exemption from billing practices (Section 2)
Section 2 is the operative provision. It states that the following regulated persons are exempted from paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 (Billing Practices) of the Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services (G.N. No. S 177/2003):
(a) MediaCorp Press Ltd; and
(b) Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
The legal significance of this wording is that the exemption is limited to the specified paragraphs. In practice, this means that while these entities are relieved from the billing practices requirements in those paragraphs, they are not automatically relieved from other Code obligations (for example, conduct requirements unrelated to billing, or other market conduct provisions). A lawyer should therefore treat the exemption as a precise scope-limited relief, not a broad deregulation.
3. Relationship to the underlying Code of Practice
Although the Notification does not reproduce the content of paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4, it expressly references them. This is a classic legislative technique: the exemption instrument “points” to the relevant parts of the Code. Practitioners should therefore consult the Code of Practice (G.N. No. S 177/2003) to determine what the billing practices paragraphs require—such as how billing information is presented, timing of billing, accuracy obligations, dispute handling, or other consumer-facing billing conduct.
4. Enabling authority and regulatory discretion
The Notification is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 17(4)” of the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002. This indicates that the MDA has statutory discretion to grant exemptions from Code provisions. For legal analysis, this matters in two ways: (i) it confirms the legal basis for the exemption; and (ii) it suggests that exemptions are intended to be exceptional or justified, rather than routine. While the Notification itself does not provide reasons, the enabling provision signals that the regulator can tailor compliance obligations to the circumstances of particular regulated persons.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Notification is extremely short and structured as a two-section instrument.
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) sets out the name and the date the Notification takes effect.
Section 2 (Exemption) identifies the exempted persons and the exact Code provisions from which they are exempt. The structure is therefore “date + carve-out.” There are no schedules, no conditions stated in the extract, and no procedural requirements (such as application processes) within the Notification itself.
Because the Notification is a subsidiary instrument that modifies compliance obligations under an existing Code of Practice, its practical operation depends on cross-referencing the Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services (G.N. No. S 177/2003). The Notification should not be read in isolation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to the “regulated persons” named in Section 2: MediaCorp Press Ltd and Singapore Press Holdings Limited. These entities are exempted from specific Code provisions relating to billing practices.
Importantly, the exemption is entity-specific and provision-specific. It does not purport to exempt other media organisations, nor does it exempt the named entities from the entire Code of Practice. A lawyer advising a client should therefore verify whether the client is one of the named entities and whether the relevant conduct falls within paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 (Billing Practices). If the conduct relates to other paragraphs, the exemption may not apply.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is brief, it has real compliance consequences. Billing practices are often a high-risk area for regulatory scrutiny because they affect transparency, consumer expectations, and the handling of disputes. By exempting two major press-related entities from the billing practices paragraphs, the MDA effectively reduces the compliance burden for those entities in the specific billing domain covered by paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the Notification is important for risk assessment and regulatory strategy. If a complaint or enforcement action concerns billing conduct, counsel must determine whether the conduct is within the exempted paragraphs. If it is, the Notification may provide a strong defence or at least a narrowing of the alleged breach. If it is not, the exemption will not assist.
Additionally, this Notification illustrates how Singapore’s regulatory framework can be implemented through a combination of (i) a general Code of Practice and (ii) targeted exemption notifications. This layered approach means that legal advice must be “stacked”: practitioners should always check whether there are exemption instruments, amendments, or later versions affecting the same Code provisions.
Related Legislation
- Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002 (Act 34 of 2002) — in particular section 17(4) (power to grant exemptions)
- Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services (G.N. No. S 177/2003) — paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 (Billing Practices)
- Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003 — SL 178/2003 (this Notification)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.