SINGAPORE: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is reviewing legal penalties to strengthen deterrence against the advertising, importation and distribution of e-vaporisers, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam on Wednesday (May 8).
Speaking in Parliament, Ms Rahayu said HSA has been monitoring illicit sales of e-vaporisers on social media, e-commerce and messaging platforms, as well as carrying out operations to remove e-vaporiser content. It is trying to expand its efforts, she added.
She was responding to a question from MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (PAP-Choa Chu Kang), who had asked what strategies are in place to engage social media platforms and advertising on social media to raise awareness about the harms of vaping and to discourage the use of vapes among youths.
In her reply, Ms Rahayu also responded to written questions from MP Wan Rizal (PAP-Jalan Besar).
Singapore authorities handled around 8,000 vaping-related offences last year, representing a 43 per cent jump from the 5,600 similar offences recorded in 2022. A total of 7,600 offences were recorded in 2021.
Vaping is illegal in Singapore and offenders can be fined up to S$2,000 (US$1,478) for the possession, use and purchase of vapes.
Those who import, distribute or sell such products face stiffer penalties, including a higher fine and a possible jail term.
Currently, the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act prohibits advertisement of e-vaporisers. However, like all domestic laws, the Act applies to vaping-related content published in Singapore and by Singapore-connected persons or entities, she said.
"The internet and social media is a global ecosystem, and having domestic laws that ban harmful content or advertisements does not mean these materials would not come from a foreign source or a foreign influencer," Ms Rahayu added.
She added that authorities are "not without agency" and elaborated on a number of measures in place.
09:05 Min
There is a global rise in the use of e-vaporisers among youths. Marketing for e-vaporisers, including through social media and influencers, is largely targeted at youths, which contributed to its widespread usage amongst this age group. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mazam said this in reply to MPs' questions in Parliament on Wednesday (May 8). She added that while the Tobacco Act applies to all vaping-related content published in Singapore and by Singapore-connected persons or entities, the Internet and social media is a global ecosystem and having these domestic laws does not mean that harmful content or advertisements would not come from a foreign source or foreign influencer. She highlighted several measures that have been put in place by the Ministry of Health (MOH), including allowing enforcement action to be taken against platforms found with inadequate processes to detect and remove vaping-related content. She also said that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has been monitoring illicit sales of e-vaporisers via social media, e-commerce and messaging platforms and carrying out operations to remove such content. HSA is also reviewing the legal penalties to strengthen the deterrence against the advertising, importation and distribution of e-vaporisers, said Ms Rahayu.
For one, social media and e-commerce platforms are aware that under the Tobacco Act, they are expected to exercise "due diligence" and actively remove vaping-related content that target Singapore residents, said Ms Rahayu.
Enforcement actions may be taken against platforms that are found with inadequate processes to detect and remove vaping-related content, she added.
Responding to a supplementary question from Mr Rizal, Ms Rahayu said that the Health Ministry and HSA issued a Letter of Notice to 16 social media services and e-commerce platforms in March to remind them that hosting vaping-related content is in breach of the Act.
In addition, under the Code of Practice for Online Safety, the Infocomm Media Development Authority has designated social media services with "significant reach or impact" such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, to minimise users’ exposure to harmful content.
Ms Rahayu added that even as the authorities remove e-vaporisers content, it tries to increase "pro-health" content. For instance, the Health Promotion Board launched a vape-free campaign last year, targeting youths and younger adults.
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Speaking in Parliament, Ms Rahayu said HSA has been monitoring illicit sales of e-vaporisers on social media, e-commerce and messaging platforms, as well as carrying out operations to remove e-vaporiser content. It is trying to expand its efforts, she added.
She was responding to a question from MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (PAP-Choa Chu Kang), who had asked what strategies are in place to engage social media platforms and advertising on social media to raise awareness about the harms of vaping and to discourage the use of vapes among youths.
In her reply, Ms Rahayu also responded to written questions from MP Wan Rizal (PAP-Jalan Besar).
Singapore authorities handled around 8,000 vaping-related offences last year, representing a 43 per cent jump from the 5,600 similar offences recorded in 2022. A total of 7,600 offences were recorded in 2021.
Vaping is illegal in Singapore and offenders can be fined up to S$2,000 (US$1,478) for the possession, use and purchase of vapes.
Those who import, distribute or sell such products face stiffer penalties, including a higher fine and a possible jail term.
Currently, the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act prohibits advertisement of e-vaporisers. However, like all domestic laws, the Act applies to vaping-related content published in Singapore and by Singapore-connected persons or entities, she said.
"The internet and social media is a global ecosystem, and having domestic laws that ban harmful content or advertisements does not mean these materials would not come from a foreign source or a foreign influencer," Ms Rahayu added.
She added that authorities are "not without agency" and elaborated on a number of measures in place.
09:05 Min
There is a global rise in the use of e-vaporisers among youths. Marketing for e-vaporisers, including through social media and influencers, is largely targeted at youths, which contributed to its widespread usage amongst this age group. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mazam said this in reply to MPs' questions in Parliament on Wednesday (May 8). She added that while the Tobacco Act applies to all vaping-related content published in Singapore and by Singapore-connected persons or entities, the Internet and social media is a global ecosystem and having these domestic laws does not mean that harmful content or advertisements would not come from a foreign source or foreign influencer. She highlighted several measures that have been put in place by the Ministry of Health (MOH), including allowing enforcement action to be taken against platforms found with inadequate processes to detect and remove vaping-related content. She also said that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has been monitoring illicit sales of e-vaporisers via social media, e-commerce and messaging platforms and carrying out operations to remove such content. HSA is also reviewing the legal penalties to strengthen the deterrence against the advertising, importation and distribution of e-vaporisers, said Ms Rahayu.
For one, social media and e-commerce platforms are aware that under the Tobacco Act, they are expected to exercise "due diligence" and actively remove vaping-related content that target Singapore residents, said Ms Rahayu.
Enforcement actions may be taken against platforms that are found with inadequate processes to detect and remove vaping-related content, she added.
Responding to a supplementary question from Mr Rizal, Ms Rahayu said that the Health Ministry and HSA issued a Letter of Notice to 16 social media services and e-commerce platforms in March to remind them that hosting vaping-related content is in breach of the Act.
In addition, under the Code of Practice for Online Safety, the Infocomm Media Development Authority has designated social media services with "significant reach or impact" such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, to minimise users’ exposure to harmful content.
Ms Rahayu added that even as the authorities remove e-vaporisers content, it tries to increase "pro-health" content. For instance, the Health Promotion Board launched a vape-free campaign last year, targeting youths and younger adults.
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