MOH and HSA Continue to Step Up Enforcement and Crackdown On E-vaporisers Offences

From 1 July to 30 September 2024, 3,840 persons were caught and issued composition fines for possession or use of e-vaporisers, a 52% increase from the previous quarter. These include 743 cases of students caught vaping that were referred by schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), 591 cases caught during community enforcement patrols, 44 cases detected through enforcement operations in the vicinity of IHLs, and 16 cases detected at checkpoints.

2. The Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Ministry of Education (MOE) are working together to ramp up efforts to tackle the problem of vaping. We also continue to work with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board (NParks) to intensify enforcement on multiple fronts, including at the checkpoints, online platforms and in the community, schools and IHLs.

Enforcement in the community

3. HSA has been actively monitoring online content to identify persons who vape in public, and use or pose with e-vaporisers in photographs or videos. In July and August 2024, HSA identified and issued composition fines to five such offenders – four males and one female, aged 13 to 34, who posted videos and photographs of themselves with e-vaporisers on their Instagram and TikTok accounts. All the offending posts have been removed. 

4. In September 2024, HSA also took enforcement action against a 49-year-old man who vaped in an MRT cabin. The incident was captured on social media. HSA raided the offender’s home in Tampines where one e-vaporiser and several drug paraphernalia were found. The man was also wanted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and is currently assisting HSA and CNB in investigations.

5. HSA has continued to intensify its community enforcement efforts and maintained a strong presence at major, high-profile events. HSA issued composition fines to about 200 individuals at the Formula 1 race weekend in September 2024 and more than 50 individuals at an outdoor music event in Sentosa in August 2024 for e-vaporiser offences. A total of 253 persons were caught through these targeted operations.

Enforcement at checkpoints

6. From 1 July to 30 September 2024, HSA and ICA conducted several joint operations at the air, land and sea checkpoints, checking more than 4,000 travellers. Of these, 16 persons were caught in possession of e-vaporisers.

7. On 17 July 2024, a 32-year-old male Malaysian driver who was driving a Malaysia-registered lorry was stopped by ICA at the Tuas Checkpoint. The driver had attempted to smuggle more than 20,000 e-vaporisers and components with a street value of more than $300,000 into Singapore. The driver was detained and handed over to HSA for further investigations. While under investigation, he attempted to leave Singapore illegally, and was caught by ICA on 19 July 2024. He was sentenced to 28 weeks of imprisonment on 28 August 2024 for offences under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 and Immigration Act 1959.

8. It is illegal for travellers to bring prohibited tobacco products like e-vaporisers into Singapore. Travellers found with e-vaporisers or their components will be fined. Transport companies and drivers bringing prohibited tobacco products into Singapore will be subjected to enforcement actions. Convicted foreigners will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.

Enforcement against suppliers, online advertisements and sales of e-vaporisers

9. HSA’s targeted enforcement against suppliers of e-vaporisers over the past few months have also resulted in continued disruptions to the illegal supply chain. These include:

a) On 7 July 2024, HSA conducted a successful enforcement operation at Paya Lebar, targeting an e-vaporiser distribution ring involving foreign domestic workers. HSA officers intercepted 10 individuals – eight buyers, as well as two female sellers, aged 44 and 39, before any transaction took place. Eight e-vaporisers and assorted components, as well as illegal medicines intended for sale were seized.  The two sellers are currently assisting in investigations.

b) On 21 August 2024, HSA disrupted an e-vaporiser distribution network at Tampines, seizing over 2,000 e-vaporisers and components with a street value exceeding $39,000. Eight individuals, aged 26 to 35, were caught distributing e-vaporisers in their vehicles at an open-air carpark. All eight individuals are currently assisting in investigations.

10. In the same quarter, HSA also worked with the administrators of local e-commerce and social media platforms to remove more than 1,900 listings of e-vaporisers and components. This is more than three times the number compared to the same period in 2023.

Continued school and public education efforts

11. HPB continues to raise awareness and highlight the harms and illegality of vaping through its campaign ‘Vape is a toxic friend you don’t need’. This year’s edition was rolled out from end July 2024, and was pushed out across multiple platforms, from outdoor advertisements to digital and social media channels. To further educate the public and dispel widespread misconceptions, HPB has introduced a dedicated “Vaping mistruths” section on its vape-free webpage on HealthHub. The new tab serves as a resource to debunk common myths surrounding vaping, and provide information about the health risks and legal implications associated with e-vaporisers.

12. HPB also works with schools to educate students in primary and secondary schools on the benefits of a nicotine-free lifestyle through assembly skits. From July to September 2024, HPB reached almost 37,000 students through these skits.

13. HPB also provides cessation support and strategies to quit for students who are caught vaping through onsite counselling by Student Health Advisors, as well as QuitLine, a tele-counselling service. From July to September 2024, about 830 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling.

14. Schools and IHLs have stepped up on preventive education to reinforce anti-vaping messages and the importance of maintaining a nicotine-free lifestyle. Students are educated that e-vaporisers are banned, and the harmful impact of vaping on individuals, families and the society.

15. In Physical Education and Science lessons, students learn about the health effects of tobacco products, and the harmful substances in them. Common myths about vaping are also covered in Science lessons. Character and Citizenship Education lessons equip students with the ability to recognise impulsive and addictive behaviours that harm one's mental and physical wellbeing and provide strategies for self-control and managing negative peer influences. To encourage early help-seeking, students are encouraged to inform a trusted adult if they are concerned about their classmates’ behaviour.

16. Parents can refer to information on Parent Hub to educate their children about the harms of vaping.

Penalties for e-vaporiser-related offences in Singapore

17. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000. Offenders who are given the opportunity to settle their offences out of Court via a Notice of Composition are strongly encouraged to do so. Those who fail to do so before the due date of the Notices will face harsher consequences in Court.

18. It is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence. All prohibited tobacco items will be seized and confiscated.

19. 21 persons aged between 14 and 48 years old were convicted in Court from 1 July to 30 September 2024 for selling e-vaporisers and related components in Singapore. The total fines amounted to more than $150,000. Please refer to Annex A for details.

20. Members of the public who have information on the illegal possession, use, purchase, import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm).

21. Information pertaining to prohibited tobacco products in Singapore is available on the HSA website. Persons who need help to quit vaping can join the I Quit programme.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
23 OCTOBER 2024