Insurance Horizon Scanner | Fire Horse Edition: Riding the Regulatory Shift in Insurance Distribution Hong Kong & Singapore

22 February 2026

The distribution of insurance through intermediaries remains the key channel for selling insurance in Asia, where sales through tied agents, financial advisors, brokers and bancassurance arrangements can account for some 90% of insurance sales to consumers.  Regulators globally have focused on insurance distribution practices such as in the EU with the Insurance Distribution Directive ("IDD"), where insurers and insurance distributors have to ensure their distribution models and product disclosures comply with the IDD requirements.

Recent regulatory developments in Asia have also focused on insurance distribution with a view to ensuring policyholder protection and fair treatment for policyholders.  Practices they have focused on are payment structures used (e.g. commissions and rebates), conduct requirements and the use of referral/ co-operation models.

This briefing explores the latest developments and those on the horizon that will impact the way in which insurance is sold in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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