SINGAPORE, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's competition watchdog on Monday issued guidance urging household appliance manufacturers to protect consumers' ability to seek repairs from alternative service providers.
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) said in a statement that while restrictions on access to repair inputs are not widespread, independent repairers sometimes face difficulties obtaining complex parts that are only supplied within manufacturers' authorized networks.
The CCS encouraged manufacturers to review their supply practices to ensure compliance with the Competition Act, noting that refusals to provide repair inputs to independent repairers could harm competition and limit consumer choice.
The guidance stems from a joint study by the CCS and the National Environment Agency into Singapore's household appliance industry, launched after complaints that some manufacturers had declined to supply repair parts.
It also includes a checklist to help consumers understand appliance warranties, which vary widely across brands and are often poorly understood.
Manufacturers were further encouraged to disclose product durability information verified by accredited third-party testing bodies, enabling consumers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. ■
