MOH bans e-cigarettes, other emerging tobacco products

Violators can be fined up to $10,000.

Beginning 15 December 2015, emerging tobacco products currently unavailable in Singapore will be banned, according to a media release by the Ministry of Health (MOH). This is the first phase of MOH’s efforts to protect the Singapore public from the harms of emerging tobacco products.

MOH asserted that the ban is being put into place to ensure that the products do not gain a foothold or become entrenched in the local market, which could spur demand for and increase the prevalence of tobacco consumption.

According to the media release, the tobacco products to be banned in this phase include smokeless cigars, cigarillos, and cigarettes, and dissolvable tobacco or nicotine.

Also banned are any product containing nicotine or tobacco that may be topically used for application, by implant, or injected into any parts of the body, as well as any solution or substance that has tobacco or nicotine that is intended to be used with an e-cigarette.

Violators can be fined up to $10,000, or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Second-time offenders or subsequent convictions can be fined up to $20,000, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

The second phase of the ban will come into effect from 1 August 2016, and will target products such as nasal and oral snuff, as well as gutkha, khaini, and zarda.

“The notice period (starting from 15 June 2015 till the date the ban comes into effect) has been given to allow importers and retailers in Singapore to adjust their operating models away from such products, and deplete their existing stocks,” asserted MOH.