Statute Details
- Title: Personal Data Protection (Do Not Call Registry) Regulations 2013
- Act Code: PDPA2012-S709-2013
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 26 of 2012)
- Enacting Power: Made under section 65 of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012
- Commencement: 2 December 2013 (with specified later commencement for certain provisions)
- Current Version: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per provided extract)
- Key Parts: Part I (Preliminary); Part II (Administration of Do Not Call Registers); Part III (Application to Check Do Not Call Registers); Part IV (Report on Terminated Singapore Telephone Numbers); Part V (Prescribed Duration and Period); Part VA (Checkers); Part VI (General); Schedules (Fees)
- Key Definitions (Regulation 2): “No Fax Message Register”, “No Text Message Register”, “No Voice Call Register”, “register”, “relevant telecommunication service”, “relevant telephone number”, and message-type definitions
What Is This Legislation About?
The Personal Data Protection (Do Not Call Registry) Regulations 2013 (“Do Not Call Registry Regulations”) provide the operational framework for Singapore’s Do Not Call regime under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (“PDPA”). In plain language, the Regulations set out how subscribers can register Singapore telephone numbers to prevent unwanted marketing communications, and how organisations can apply to check those numbers before sending specified messages.
Singapore’s Do Not Call system is not a single list for all communication types. Instead, it is structured into separate registers for different message channels: voice calls, text messages (including SMS), and fax messages. The Regulations define these registers and regulate the end-to-end process: adding/removing numbers, confirming listing, correcting the register, applying to check the registers, and handling reporting obligations relating to terminated telephone numbers.
Although the PDPA establishes the broader legal duties around personal data and marketing communications, the Regulations are the “mechanics” that make the Do Not Call system workable. They translate statutory concepts (such as the PDPA’s provisions on checking and duration/periods) into detailed administrative and procedural requirements, including fees and timelines.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1) Citation, commencement, and the scope of operational rules (Regulations 1 and 2). Regulation 1 provides the citation and commencement dates. Importantly, it distinguishes between provisions that came into operation on 2 December 2013 and those that commenced later on 2 January 2014. This matters for practitioners assessing historical compliance and for determining which procedural obligations applied at a given time.
Regulation 2 is foundational: it defines the registers and the message categories. The Regulations define “No Fax Message Register”, “No Text Message Register”, and “No Voice Call Register”, and clarify that “register” refers to one of these depending on the context. It also defines “specified fax message”, “specified text message”, and “specified voice message”, including that “specified voice message” covers voice calls or video calls using a telephone service, data service, or other electronic means. This breadth is critical: it signals that “voice” is not limited to traditional PSTN calling.
2) Subscriber administration: adding, removing, confirming, and correcting listings (Regulations 3 to 7). Part II governs how subscribers interact with the registers. Regulation 3 addresses applications by a subscriber to add or remove a Singapore telephone number. Regulation 4 then sets the “effective date of addition or removal”, which is essential for compliance: organisations must know when a number becomes protected (or ceases to be protected) so that they can align their marketing campaigns and checking processes.
Regulation 5 provides for an application by a subscriber to confirm listing in the register. In practice, this confirmation step helps ensure that the subscriber’s request is verified and that the listing is accurate. Regulation 6 covers applications by or on behalf of the subscriber, which is relevant where a subscriber uses an authorised representative or where the process is conducted through another party. Regulation 7 allows for “correction or alteration of register” entries, enabling the system to be maintained with accurate data.
3) Checking the registers: registration before checking, applications, and fees (Regulations 8 to 11). Part III sets out how organisations (or “checkers”) apply to check the Do Not Call registers. Regulation 8 requires registration before applying to check the register. This is a gatekeeping mechanism: it ensures that only registered entities can access the register-checking functionality, supporting accountability and auditability.
Regulation 9 provides for the application to check the Do Not Call registers. Regulation 10 sets out the fees. Regulation 11 is shown as “(Deleted)” in the extract, indicating that at least one earlier fee or procedural provision has been removed. For practitioners, this highlights the need to consult the current consolidated version when advising on cost and procedural steps.
4) Reporting terminated telephone numbers: telecommunications service providers (Regulations 12 to 14). Part IV imposes obligations on telecommunications service providers. Regulation 12 requires registration of telecommunications service providers. Regulation 13 then requires submission of a report on terminated Singapore telephone numbers. This is a key operational safeguard: when a number is terminated and later reallocated, the Do Not Call protections should be handled appropriately to avoid either (a) unnecessary suppression of marketing to a new subscriber, or (b) accidental marketing to a number that should remain protected.
Regulation 14 prescribes the fee for these reporting-related processes. The inclusion of fees in the Regulations underscores that the Do Not Call system is administered as a regulated service with defined administrative costs.
5) Prescribed duration and periods tied to the PDPA (Regulations 15 to 17). Part V specifies “prescribed duration” and “prescribed period” for certain PDPA provisions (notably section 43(2)(a), section 43(2)(b), and section 47(3) of the Act). While the extract does not reproduce the PDPA text, the structure indicates that the PDPA sets general rules about when checking is valid and/or how long certain defences or compliance effects last. The Regulations then supply the exact time periods that practitioners must apply.
6) Checkers: additional requirements (Regulation 17A). Part VA introduces “Requirements for checkers”. Although the extract does not set out the content of Regulation 17A, its placement indicates that the Regulations impose additional conditions on entities that check the registers—likely relating to eligibility, use limitations, and/or compliance with the PDPA’s data protection and marketing restrictions.
7) General provisions: time and waiver (Regulations 18 and 19). Part VI includes general rules. Regulation 18 addresses “Time”, which typically clarifies how time limits are computed (for example, whether days are calendar days, how deadlines are treated, and how service or receipt is determined). Regulation 19 provides for “Waiver”, allowing the relevant authority to waive certain requirements in appropriate circumstances. For legal practice, waiver provisions can be pivotal in exceptional cases where strict compliance is impracticable.
8) Schedules: fees payable and advance payments. The First Schedule lists “Fees payable by person”. The Second Schedule provides for “Advance payment of application fee”. The Third Schedule sets out “Fees payable in respect of terminated Singapore telephone numbers”. These schedules are practically important because they affect budgeting, procurement, and compliance planning for organisations that need to check numbers regularly.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are organised into Parts that follow the lifecycle of Do Not Call compliance:
Part I (Preliminary) contains the citation/commencement and definitions. Definitions are especially important because the Do Not Call regime depends on the type of message (fax, text, voice) and the relevant telephone number.
Part II (Administration of Do Not Call Registers) covers how subscribers manage their listings: adding/removing numbers, confirming listing, handling applications by/on behalf of subscribers, and correcting register entries.
Part III (Application to Check Do Not Call Registers) sets out how organisations access the registers, including registration before checking, application procedures, and fees. It also includes a deleted regulation, reflecting amendments over time.
Part IV (Report on Terminated Singapore Telephone Numbers) imposes reporting obligations on telecommunications service providers, including registration and reporting of terminated numbers, plus prescribed fees.
Part V (Prescribed Duration and Period) links the Do Not Call checking regime to specific PDPA provisions by prescribing the relevant time periods.
Part VA (Checkers) adds further requirements for entities that check the registers.
Part VI (General) includes time computation and waiver.
Finally, Schedules provide the fee framework, including advance payments and fees for terminated numbers.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to multiple stakeholder groups within the Do Not Call ecosystem. Subscribers (individuals or entities that hold Singapore telephone numbers) are the primary users of the register administration process. They can apply to add or remove their numbers, confirm listing, and request corrections or alterations.
Telecommunications service providers are subject to Part IV obligations, including registration and reporting of terminated telephone numbers. Organisations that wish to send specified marketing communications must, in practice, check the relevant Do Not Call registers before sending messages to numbers that may be listed. The Regulations’ Part III and Part VA provisions govern how these “checkers” access and use the registers, including registration, applications, fees, and additional requirements.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, the Do Not Call Registry Regulations are important because they operationalise compliance with the PDPA’s marketing-related obligations. The Do Not Call registers function as a compliance tool: if an organisation checks the appropriate register(s) within the prescribed validity period, it can manage the risk of sending marketing messages to numbers that have opted out.
The Regulations also reduce uncertainty by specifying procedural details that affect real-world compliance. For example, the effective date of addition/removal (Regulation 4) determines when a number becomes protected. The prescribed duration and periods (Regulations 15 to 17) determine how long a check remains relevant for compliance purposes. These time-based elements are often where compliance failures occur—particularly when campaigns are planned months in advance or when lists are refreshed periodically.
Finally, the inclusion of separate registers for fax, text, and voice communications—and the broad definition of “specified voice message” to include video calls—means that organisations must map their communication channels to the correct register. A failure to check the correct register for the relevant message type can undermine compliance even if the organisation has otherwise implemented a Do Not Call process.
Related Legislation
- Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 26 of 2012) — in particular the provisions on Do Not Call registers, checking, and marketing-related compliance (including sections referenced by the Regulations such as section 43(2)(a), section 43(2)(b), and section 47(3)).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Personal Data Protection (Do Not Call Registry) Regulations 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.