UPDATE ON STEPPED UP ENFORCEMENT AGAINST E-VAPORISERS AND EDUCATION EFFORTS

An intensified multi-agency effort to protect our population from the harmful effects of electronic vaporisers (e-vaporisers) has yielded results. From 1 April to 30 June 2024, about 2,530 persons were caught for the possession or use of e-vaporisers across the island, at hotspots such as the central business district, entertainment outlets and around shopping centres. This is a 30% increase compared to about 1,950 persons caught in the previous quarter from 1 January to 31 March 2024.

2. To prevent vaping from being entrenched in the population, the Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) will continue to work with the Ministry of Education (MOE), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board (NParks) to step up enforcement on multiple fronts, including in the community, schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), at the checkpoints, and online.

Enforcement in the community, schools and IHLs

3. On 29 July 2024, HSA conducted enforcement operations at Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Suntec City, Kampong Glam and Chinatown. A total of 57 individuals were caught and fined on the spot, and 57 e-vaporisers were seized (refer to Annex A for photos of the e-vaporisers seized).

4. At schools and IHLs, discipline personnel have been proactively conducting checks and campus patrols.  From 1 April to 30 June 2024, around 690 students were referred to HSA and fined for the use and possession of e-vaporisers. Enforcement operations conducted in the vicinity of IHLs during the same period caught around 40 individuals in similar acts.

Enforcement at the checkpoints

5. At the checkpoints, HSA works closely with the ICA to detect and deter attempts at smuggling vaping products through Singapore’s borders.  From 1 April to 30 June 2024, HSA and ICA conducted several joint operations at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, Changi Airport, Singapore Cruise Centre, Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on more than 5,000 travellers. Of these, 19 persons were found to be in possession of e-vaporisers.

6. 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

7. During the same period, HSA also worked with the administrators of the local e-commerce and social media platforms to take down more than 2,000 listings of e-vaporisers and components such as pods and refills. This came on the back of Letters of Notice sent to local e-commerce and social media platforms in March 2024, to remind them of their obligations to prevent the advertisement and sale of e-vaporisers on their platforms.

8. At the same time, HSA’s targeted enforcement against suppliers of e-vaporisers over the past few months had also resulted in significant seizures and disruptions to the illegal supply chain:

• On 24 April 2024, HSA seized e-vaporisers and related components worth more than $5 million in street value from a warehouse unit located at Woodlands Industrial Park. Two Thai male nationals aged 22 and 30 years old were caught, and were convicted on 18 July 2024 for the possession and sale of imitation tobacco products and immigration-related offences. Both were sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment along with fines of $9,000 and $7,000 respectively.

• From 14 to 18 June 2024, HSA seized over 350,000 e-vaporisers and components worth more than $6 million in street value in raids at three locations. Two men and two women aged between 34 and 52 years old were apprehended.

• On 8 July 2024, HSA disrupted an e-vaporiser distribution network which involved over 17,000 e-vaporisers and components worth more than $200,000 in street value that had been meant for sale via Telegram, a messaging app. Swift and targeted raids were conducted at Jalan Kilang Timor, Toh Guan Road and Anchorvale Drive over a 24-hour period. Two men, aged 30 and 44 years old, are assisting in investigations.

9. Six persons aged between 24 and 36 years old were convicted in Court from 1 April to 30 June 2024 for selling e-vaporisers and related components in Singapore. The total fines amounted to more than $51,000 (refer to Annex B for the details).

Continued school and public education efforts

10. HPB will continue to raise awareness of the harms and illegality of vaping across multiple platforms, including through its online campaign ‘Vape is a toxic friend you don’t need’. It also works with schools to educate students in primary and secondary schools on the benefits of a nicotine-free lifestyle through assembly skits. The skit has reached over 33,000 students over the last quarter, from April to June 2024.

11. HPB also provides cessation support and strategies to quit for students who are caught vaping through QuitLine, a tele-counselling service, as well as onsite counselling by Student Health Advisors. From April to June 2024, almost 400 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling, of whom about 50% have either reduced or quit smoking and/or vaping one-month post-counselling.

12. At immigration checkpoints, HPB also utilises targeted digital and social media advertisements to remind citizens and inbound travellers of the illegality and penalties of vaping in Singapore.

Penalties for e-vaporiser-related offences in Singapore

13. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000. It is also 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.

14. 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 (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).

15. Information pertaining to prohibited tobacco products in Singapore is available on the HSA website and more details about the harms of vaping can be found on HealthHub. Persons who need help to quit vaping can join the I Quit programme.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY

1 AUGUST 2024