New tobacco rules set for next year

Tobacco firms will need to roll out new graphic warnings and package cigarillos in 20s by March 1, 2013.

With the deadline finalized by the Health Promotion Board, companies now have a year to comply with the amendments to the Smoking (Control of Advertisements and Sale of Tobacco) Act formulated back in 2010.

Other control measures taking effect next year include the lowering of maximum tar and nicotine limits on tobaccos, and banning misleading descriptors on packaging.

More health information will also be printed, expanding on the current tar and nicotine yield level information, to now include of other chemicals found in cigarettes.

“The reality is that smoking kills, regardless of what type of cigarette it is. There is no evidence that "light‟ and "mild‟ cigarettes are any less harmful. Yet many smokers, who want to quit the habit but found it challenging, tend to switch to cigarettes with these descriptors, because they think these cigarettes are less harmful," said Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Officer, HPB, in explaining the need for the amendments.

"Given that outer packaging, such as the carton, is also on display at the point of sale, extending the graphic health warnings to larger packaging will enhance the effect of the graphic health warnings. Such a move is also aligned with the World Health Organization‟s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Singapore is party to," said HDB in a release.

"In addition, a new health information requirement will replace the current requirement to print tar and nicotine yield levels. The health information will further inform smokers of chemicals, other than tar and nicotine, in a cigarette. It is important to note that lowering the tar and nicotine limits does not improve the safety of cigarettes as no level of toxicity and addictiveness can be deemed to be safe in cigarettes. However, the limits provide a ceiling which prevents tobacco manufacturers from including excessive levels of nicotine and tar," it added.