Enforcement against Retailers and Distributors of Batteries for Non-original Active Mobility Devices

7 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport in view of the rise in fires caused by active mobility devices (AMDs) in 2023 (a) what are the Ministry’s plans to carry out enforcement against the retailers and distributors of non-original AMD batteries; and (b) whether the Ministry intends to increase the penalties for individuals who are found to have tampered with or modified their AMD batteries.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport (Mr Baey Yam Keng) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, any motorised personal mobility device (PMD) or power-assisted bicycle (PAB) that uses non-original batteries is non-compliant. It is an offence to illegally modify, sell or use such devices on public paths. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts enforcement on paths and operations against retailers. From January 2020 to December 2023, LTA detected about 5,100 offences involving non-compliant devices on paths. [Please refer to "Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport", Official Report, 5 March 2024, Vol 95, Issue 130, Correction By Written Statement section.]

In the same period, LTA detected about 100 violations from operations against retailers. LTA does not track cases specifically involving non-original batteries. Non-compliant devices are immediately seized and enforcement actions are taken.

For first-time offenders, the maximum penalty for using a non-compliant device on a public path is a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six months or both; the maximum penalty for retailer companies displaying a non-compliant device for sale is a fine of up to $20,000; and the maximum penalty for individuals illegally modifying a device is a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment for up to 24 months or both. We will press on with our enforcement and public education efforts, and will review the need for further measures.

Mr Speaker: Mr Yip.

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. Beyond enforcement, is the Ministry considering collaborating with retailers and distributors to educate consumers on identifying safe and certified active mobility device (AMD) batteries? Second, given the rise in some of these fires involving AMDs, is the Ministry considering stricter safety regulations for all AMDs, including mandatory fire retardant casings or automatic shut-off mechanisms for some of these machines?

Mr Baey Yam Keng: Yes, LTA already engages PAB retailers for them to collaborate with the National Delivery Champions Association to conduct workshops on the safe use of some of the more popular PAB brands used by delivery riders.

On a more general basis, the LTA and Singapore Civil Defence Force co-chair an Active Mobility Fire Safety Taskforce that coordinates efforts to raise awareness among the public of fire safety and proper use of devices, whether through face-to-face interactions or through social media.

On additional requirements for fire retardant features of the devices, if the devices are compliant with the standards – we have separate standards for PMDs and PABs – these batteries should work if they are used properly and charged in a proper manner. The authorities will continue to review these standards and also consider the suggestion by the Member on whether additional device features are needed for better fire safety.

Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answers. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary highlighted the harsh punishments when retailers are caught with selling illegal batteries or devices. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary share with the House, despite these harsh punishments, what are the challenges that LTA face in trying to clamp down on the number of retailers selling illegal devices as well as illegal batteries? And are there any new plans that LTA may have to deal with the continuing import of illegal batteries and devices?

Mr Baey Yam Keng: We can only conduct operations against retailers when they have a physical shop. But what we find is that a lot of people or riders purchase their devices online and some of these sources are overseas. That is where we will have challenges in enforcing against such online retailers. I would like to remind the public that, especially for electronic devices, it is critical to ensure that these devices are meant for use in Singapore and comply with the regulations in Singapore.

For some of these devices, they may be purported to be very good and very reasonably priced, but they may be constructed for use in a different climate, in different terrain, than Singapore's. So, I would urge consumers to keep their eyes and ears open, and look out for the right devices to purchase.

Mr Speaker: Dr Tan Wu Meng.

Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. I have got two questions to follow up with the Ministry of Transport. Firstly, I note that the Senior Parliamentary Secretary said, currently the agencies can only conduct enforcement operations on physical shops, when the physical shop is selling a non-compliant device or battery that might be a fire risk. Would the Ministry consider, looking at ways to conduct enforcement operations against online platforms with a presence in Singapore, with an office in Singapore, that may have facilitated the sale of a non-compliant battery that is a fire risk?

Secondly, would the Ministry also look at a way of establishing some kind of supplier responsibility in this vein as well? Because that way, the online platform, if they know they face some liability if they facilitate the sale of an unsafe product and someone is injured or dies, that is a very strong incentive for the platform to take some responsibility as well for what they are selling or intermediating.

Mr Baey Yam Keng: I thank Dr Tan for the question. I need to add to my earlier reply that if the online retailer or platform is based in Singapore and we are able to reach those platforms, and we know of non-compliant devices being sold or being placed as an advertisement on the platforms, we will reach out to these online retailers and ask them to take down or stop the sale of such devices. There is no law per se, but we are currently reviewing how we can strengthen this aspect of regulation.