The issue of Colors, a magazine published by Italian fashion house United Colors of Benetton, exceeded the government regulator's guidelines for imported publications, the Media Development Authority (MDA) said.

It said the issue, which focused on the theme of lust, contained "explicit illustrations and photos of nudity and sexual acts, including orgies".

It ordered the distributor "to withdraw all copies of the Spring issue from the market."

Publication importers "are expected to self-regulate and are provided with a set of content guidelines," MDA said in an e-mailed answer to an AFP query.

"When in doubt about the contents, they can consult the MDA, but in this case, the distributor did not consult the authority," the regulator said, warning that importing and distributing "undesirable publications" was punishable by law.

MDA said it was investigating the matter.

More than 1.5 million publications are imported annually into the wealthy city-state, which is governed by strict censorship laws and where conservative family values are dominant.

But the government has recently been trying to promote a more cosmopolitan image, removing curbs on a number of previously banned activities such as bungee-jumping and bar-top dancing.

In September last year, the MDA lifted a long-standing ban on the popular US women's magazine Cosmopolitan, but warned it must not contain "exploitative sex and nudity".

Singapore also lifted a ban on the hit American TV series Sex And The City.

Authorities are still keeping the lid on Playboy and other magazines depicting nudity.

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