Singapore to officially ban the use or possession of e-cigarettes from February, with fines of up to

  According to Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore will implement new regulations prohibiting the purchase, use, and possession of new tobacco products and imitation tobacco products starting from the 1st of next month. Violators may face fines of up to 2000 SGD.

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday that the revised Tobacco (Advertising and Sales Control) Act passed by Parliament last November will gradually come into effect, with the above being the first new regulation to take effect.

New tobacco products and imitation tobacco products include e-cigarettes, vape pens, shisha, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products. The Ministry of Health urges the public to dispose of any illegal tobacco products they may possess.

Under existing laws, no one is allowed to import, sell, or wholesale new tobacco products and imitation tobacco products. Violators can be fined up to 10,000 SGD, or imprisoned for up to six months, or both. Repeat offenders may face fines of up to 20,000 SGD, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

If the public becomes aware of anyone illegally using or importing banned tobacco products, they can report it to the Health Sciences Authority.

Additionally, the legal minimum age for smoking will be raised from 18 to 19 years on January 1 next year, and then to 20 years on January 1 the following year, ultimately reaching 21 years on January 1, 2021.

The Ministry of Health stated that the revised law will reduce the chances of youth smoking before the age of 21 and better protect the population from exposure to harmful tobacco products.

The Ministry of Health strongly urges smokers to quit smoking to avoid smoking-related diseases. The public should seek safe and effective ways to quit smoking, such as quitting cold turkey, undergoing smoking cessation counseling, or using licensed nicotine replacement therapies.