Apart from domestic laws, Singapore also ratified the legally binding Corporate Accountability and Public Health treaty/Global Tobacco treaty in May 2004. This treaty is formally called the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) (May 2004) and its Conference of the Parties is next month in Geneva.
Because of the implementation of science- and evidence-based tobacco control laws in Singapore, deadly tobacco smoking has almost halved over the years (from 13.7% in 2007 to 8.8% in 2023), said Sabita.
Singapore has enforced a whole battery of science- and evidence-based tobacco control laws stringently. For example, there are very widespread smokefree areas, taxes on tobacco products are high (67.5%), tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is banned, standardised packaging is enforced, and the nicotine and tobacco industrys' so-called "new" deadly products (such as e-cigarettes, vapes, etc.) are also banned. According to WHO, there is no safe level of tobacco use.
Tobacco kills, do not be duped.
Singapore has also banned the point-of-sale display of tobacco products. The current minimum legal age for smoking has been increased in 2021 to 21 years.
Singapore's Health Sciences Authority enforces the laws regarding the licensing of tobacco retailers, importers, and wholesalers.
The license fee for tobacco retail is Singapore dollars 400 with an annual renewal fees of dollars 300. Fines are hefty for violating laws--for example, there is a fine of up to Singapore dollar 10,000 for selling tobacco products to those under 21, said Sabita Karapan. Before joining Vital Strategies, she earlier served the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)'s Asia Pacific regional office.
Sabita Karapan said that it is the legal responsibility of tobacco retailers to ensure that all transactions of tobacco products are carried out at the outlet. The license holder is responsible for the actions of all employees. Non-employees are not allowed by law to handle, retail, or access tobacco at the outlet.
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