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Health Sciences Authority
Press Releases

HSA Nabs 18-year-old Male for Selling E-vaporisers at a Playground

Audiences

Consumer

Healthcare professional

Industry member

Product type

Tobacco control

1 December 2023

This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.

On 27 November 2023, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) conducted an operation at a Toa Payoh HDB playground and apprehended an 18-year-old male red handed trying to sell an e-vaporiser to a 13-year-old boy. HSA had received a tip-off that the 18-year-old had been seen selling e-vaporisers at the playground.

2        As part of investigations, HSA conducted a search of the 18-year-old’s residence at Toa Payoh and found more than 700 e-vaporisers and its related components, with an estimated street value of $15,400. These products have been seized and the 18-year-old male is currently assisting HSA in investigations.

3        HSA will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions on those who conduct illegal activities such as the peddling of prohibited e-vaporisers to members of the public, especially to youths and students. On 23 November, a 36-year-old male who worked at West Mall was fined $13,700 for selling e-vaporisers and their components to students in the area.

Penalties for such offences in Singapore    

4        HSA would like to remind the public that it is an offence[1] to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence. All prohibited tobacco items will also be seized and confiscated.

Consumer advisory

5           Members of the public are reminded that the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers is illegal and carries a maximum fine of $2000. Information pertaining to prohibited tobacco products in Singapore is available on the HSA website and more details about the harms of e-vaporisers can be found in this HealthHub article.

6        Members of the public who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
1 DECEMBER 2023

Download PDF version here [PDF, 525 KB]

[1] This offence falls under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.

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