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 Provision: Section 17(4) of the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002
- Legislation Code: MDASA2002-S178-2003
- SL Number: S 178/2003
- Date of Making: 29 March 2003
- Commencement: 15 April 2003
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the platform’s versioning)
- Key Operative Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Exempted Code Provisions: 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)
- Exempted Regulated Persons: (a) MediaCorp Press Ltd; (b) Singapore Press Holdings Limited
What Is This Legislation About?
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003 is a targeted regulatory instrument. In essence, it grants specific exemptions from certain “billing practices” requirements contained in the Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services (G.N. No. S 177/2003). Rather than rewriting the Code itself, the Notification temporarily (and in practice, as reflected in the current consolidated position) carves out two named media entities from compliance with particular billing-related paragraphs.
In plain language, the Notification recognises that the two exempted companies—MediaCorp Press Ltd and Singapore Press Holdings Limited—are not required to comply with the Code’s billing practices provisions (paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4). The legal mechanism is important: the exemption is not a general waiver for all regulated persons, but a narrow exemption for specified entities from specified parts of the Code.
For practitioners, the key point is that this Notification operates alongside the Code of Practice. The Code remains applicable to regulated persons generally, but the Notification modifies that applicability by excluding the exempted persons from the billing practices requirements. This is a common regulatory technique: the regulator maintains baseline market conduct rules while allowing flexibility where justified.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement. Section 1 provides the formal citation of the Notification and states when it comes into operation. The Notification “may be cited as” the Media Development Authority of Singapore (Code of Practice) (Exemption) Notification 2003 and “shall come into operation on 15th April 2003.” This matters for compliance timelines. If billing practices were being assessed for conduct occurring before 15 April 2003, the exemption would not yet have been in force. After commencement, the exempted entities fall outside the specified Code requirements.
Section 2: Exemption. 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). The exempted persons are expressly named: (a) MediaCorp Press Ltd; and (b) Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
From a legal drafting standpoint, the exemption is both subject-matter limited and person-specific. The subject-matter limitation is clear: only paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 are exempted. All other paragraphs of the Code (unless separately exempted by another notification) remain applicable to these entities. The person-specific limitation is equally clear: only the two named companies are exempt. Other regulated persons must continue to comply with the billing practices provisions.
Interaction with the Code of Practice (G.N. No. S 177/2003). Although the extract provided does not reproduce the content of paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4, the Notification’s reference indicates that the Code contains detailed requirements on billing practices. These typically relate to how charges are calculated, how invoices are issued, transparency of billing, and potentially the handling of billing disputes or corrections. The exemption means that, for the exempted entities, those specific billing practices obligations do not apply. However, practitioners should be cautious: the exemption does not necessarily immunise the exempted entities from all billing-related legal duties. Other provisions of the Code, other sectoral regulations, and general legal obligations (for example, consumer protection principles, contractual duties, and any applicable licensing conditions) may still apply.
Regulatory authority and legal basis. The Notification is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 17(4)” of the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002. This is significant for legal validity and for any challenge or interpretation. It indicates that Parliament has empowered the Media Development Authority (MDA) to issue exemptions from Code provisions for specified persons. For practitioners, this provides the statutory footing for the Notification and helps explain why it is structured as a formal “Notification” rather than an informal administrative decision.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, the Notification is extremely concise. It contains only two sections:
(1) Citation and commencement—sets out the name of the instrument and the date it begins to operate (15 April 2003).
(2) Exemption—identifies the exempted regulated persons and the specific Code paragraphs from which they are exempt (paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 on billing practices).
There are no schedules, no conditions stated in the extract, and no procedural requirements (such as reporting or periodic review) included in the Notification itself. That said, the absence of conditions in the text does not necessarily mean there are none in practice; rather, it indicates that the exemption is granted directly and expressly by the Notification’s terms.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to “regulated persons” within the meaning of the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002 and the relevant Code of Practice framework. However, the Notification does not apply to all regulated persons. It applies only to the two named entities: MediaCorp Press Ltd and Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
For these entities, the exemption is limited to paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4 of the Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services (G.N. No. S 177/2003). Accordingly, the exemption is best understood as a partial carve-out: these companies are not required to comply with the Code’s billing practices provisions, but they remain subject to the rest of the Code (unless another exemption applies) and to any other applicable regulatory or legal obligations.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is short, it can have meaningful practical impact. Billing practices are a core component of market conduct regulation because they affect transparency, customer experience, and the integrity of commercial dealings. By exempting two major media press operators from the Code’s billing practices paragraphs, the Notification alters the compliance landscape for those entities.
For lawyers advising regulated entities, the Notification is important for two reasons. First, it provides clarity on which compliance obligations do not apply to the exempted persons. This can be critical when assessing whether a company has breached the Code. If an alleged breach concerns only paragraphs 3.4 to 3.4.4, the exemption may be a complete defence (at least as to those specific provisions). Second, it helps avoid over-compliance or misdirected compliance efforts—while companies may still choose to follow best practices, the legal requirement under those particular Code paragraphs is removed for the exempted entities.
For enforcement and regulatory compliance teams, the Notification also shapes how investigations should be framed. Any compliance assessment should first identify the relevant Code paragraph(s) and then check whether a specific exemption notification applies to the regulated person. A failure to consider an exemption could lead to incorrect findings or unnecessary remedial actions.
Finally, the Notification illustrates the regulator’s approach to balancing uniform market conduct rules with sector-specific realities. The fact that only billing practices are exempted (and only for two named entities) suggests a targeted regulatory judgment rather than a broad deregulation. Practitioners should therefore treat the Notification as a precise legal instrument: its scope is determined by the exact persons named and the exact Code paragraphs referenced.
Related Legislation
- Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002 (Act 34 of 2002) — in particular section 17(4) (power to exempt)
- 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)
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.