Is Vaping Illegal in Singapore?

Last updated on November 12, 2020

Featured image for "Is vaping illegal in Singapore?" article. The image features various paraphernalia for vaping.

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

Despite such marketing, whether vaporisers are indeed an effective form of nicotine replacement therapy is controversial. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that it 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 TCASA covers any toy, device or article:

  1. That resembles, or is designed to resemble, a tobacco product;
  2. That is capable of being smoked;
  3. That may be used in such a way as to mimic the act of smoking; or
  4. 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 TCASA, 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 of 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.

Every 31 May is World No Tobacco Day ?. In case your memory on Singapore’s vaping laws is hazy, we’re clearing the air for ya – as of 1 Feb 2018, the use, purchase and possession of e-cigarettes in Singapore is illegal. – What about importing e-cigarettes into Singapore? Illegal since 1 Aug 2016. So basically, you can’t do anything related to vaping in Singapore without breaking the law. No ifs, ands or (cigarette) butts about this. Sorry. – Regardless of whether you like to puff cigarettes, cigars or roll-your-owns, the legal age to smoke in Singapore is currently 18. However, this minimum age will be increased to 21 over the next 3 years. Therefore if you’re still in school, the only thing you should be smoking is through your exams. Okay, pretend we didn’t say that.

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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.

You can also read more about the smoking laws in Singapore in our other article.

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