According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao on May 8th, Singapore has not only banned e-cigarettes, but also prohibited any related advertisements. Last year, Singapore removed over 3000 online advertisements or posts related to e-cigarettes. Authorities are also enhancing penalties for e-cigarette offenses, in order to increase deterrence against those who promote, import, and sell e-cigarettes.
The Senior Minister of State for Health and Law, Rahayu Mahzam, revealed this information during a parliamentary meeting on May 8 in response to questions from Members of Parliament Png Eng Huat and Dr. Janil Puthucheary. She highlighted that the Health Sciences Authority has been closely monitoring the illegal sale of e-cigarettes on social media, e-commerce platforms, and messaging apps and has taken action by removing a significant number of related posts or advertisements.
Zhou Kainian asked how authorities are using social media platforms to increase public awareness of the harms of e-cigarettes and to discourage young people from using them. Meanwhile, Dr. Wen Lijia questioned how enforcement can be strengthened to crack down on illegal importing, distributing, and promoting of e-cigarettes in Singapore, as well as how to collaborate with other agencies to ensure online content complies with existing regulations.
According to Rahayu Mazam, the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act in Singapore has already banned advertisements related to e-cigarettes. "However, the internet and social media are global ecosystems, and our domestic ban cannot prevent influencers from other countries or regions from posting such content," she said.
Lahayu Mazan stated that, despite facing numerous challenges, the authorities have taken steps to cooperate with other government agencies and actively negotiate with social media platforms and e-commerce platforms to successfully remove a significant amount of content related to e-cigarettes.
According to statistics, authorities removed more than 3000 e-cigarette-related online advertisements or posts last year, a significant increase from the 2600 removed in 2022. In March, authorities issued warnings to 16 social media and e-commerce service providers that contained e-cigarette-related content. These platforms are obligated to review e-cigarette-related content targeting local residents and actively remove it.
In addition, authorities have also been actively promoting health information, such as last year when the Health Promotion Board launched a campaign to educate young people about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
