Vaping is Illegal in Singapore?

The use of e-cigarettes and other forms of vaporisers -informally known as “vaping” – is widely practiced overseas and marketed by manufacturers as a healthier alternative of cigarettes.

Despite such marketing, whether vaporisers are indeed an effective from of notice replacement therapy is controversial.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that is “does not consider vaping as a legitimate therapy” to help smokers quit due to a lack of scientific evidence.

Under section 16(2A) of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA), it is illegal to possess, purchase and use vaporisers in Singapore as of 1 February 2018.

This includes e-cigarettes, e-pipes and e-cigars as the TASCA covers any toy, device or article:

i. That resembles, or is designed to resemble, a tobacco product;

ii. That is capable of being smoked;

iii. That may be used in such a way as to mimic the act of smoking, or

iv. The packaging of which resembles, or is designed to resemble, the packaging commonly associated with tobacco products.

Persons found guilty of this offence can be fined up to $2,000.

In addition, under section 16(1) of the TASCA, it has been illegal to import vaporisers from 1 August 2016 onwards.

This means that buying vaporisers online and shipping them to Singapore for personal use is illegal.  Those guilty to the offence are liable to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to 6 months’ jail. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to $20,000 and/or to 12 months’ jail.

As advised by the Health Sciences Authority in a press release on 13 July 2016, members of the public should refrain from using vaporisers, and discard any vaporisers they may own, to avoid breaking the law.

In the US, according to the report of the Food and Drug Administration, it declared that the youth use of e-cigarette has reached epidemic proportions.

Estimation there are some 3.6 million underage user of Juul and other e-cigarettes, these are just the underage numbers, not include the adult one.  Between 2011 and 2018, there’s been an unsurge in e-cigarette use among US middle and high school students.

The industry has done much strategy to market e-cigarette, and attracted young people and women by colorful packaging, flavoring, design shape of the vape, etc.

In Hong Kong, the tobacco industry has been lobbying health authorities to regulated e-cigarettes like other tobacco products, or in short, not to ban them.

Singapore is a country that knowing very strictly in the law enforcement, there is no compromise of any violence of law. To enjoying your tripe in Singapore it is better if you follow the regulation to avoid any problems at all.

 pics: sinlegaladvice.com