New prohibitions on the purchase, use and possession of emerging and imitation tobacco products will come into force from Feb 1, 2018. Anyone caught violating the new law will be liable for a fine not exceeding S$2,000.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) encourages the public to discard any prohibited tobacco products that they currently have in possession.
The Minimum Legal Age (MLA) for the purchase, use, possession, sale and supply of tobacco products will also be raised from 18 to 19 years old on January 1 next year.
It will then be subsequently raised to 20 on January 1, 2020, and to 21 on January 1, 2021.
These changes are the first phase of implementation of the amendments to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA), which were passed in Parliament in November 2017.
The move seeks to further reduce opportunities for youths to take up smoking before they turn 21, MOH said in a press statement. It also aims to better protect Singaporeans from the harms of emerging and imitation tobacco products.
MOH strongly urges smokers to quit smoking to reduce the risk of developing smoking-related illnesses.
Individuals seeking to quit smoking should use methods proven to be safe and effective. These methods include going cold turkey, undergoing smoking cessation counselling and using licensed nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs). NRTs, when used in conjunction with counselling, can be effective in helping individuals quit smoking in the long run.
Advice and support on smoking cessation are available through the toll-free Quitline at 1800 438 2000 or the iQuit club at www.hpb.gov.sg/iquit.
