HSA Prosecutes Five for Unlicensed Sale of Shisha Tobacco

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has prosecuted five retailers for the unlicensed sale of shisha molasses/tobacco at their outlets located in the Kampong Glam vicinity. All five were convicted in Court and fined a total of $14,200 (please refer to Annex A for the details).

2          Four of the outlets had their tobacco retail licences revoked earlier for tobacco related offences. Despite that, they persisted in the sale of shisha molasses and tobacco. Nefertiti Pte Ltd had never applied for a tobacco retail licence but sold shisha tobacco.  These cases were detected through HSA’s enforcement activities, which are targeted at deterring the unlicensed sale of tobacco products in Singapore. 

Shisha Molasses/ Tobacco is Strictly Prohibited in Singapore

3          HSA would like to remind the public that the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Prohibited Tobacco Products) Regulations prohibits the import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of shisha molasses/tobacco.

4          Any person who is convicted of the above offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, for the first offence and to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, for the second or subsequent offence. Any shisha molasses/tobacco imported will be seized and confiscated. Information pertaining to the prohibition of harmful tobacco products in Singapore is available on HSA’s website.

5          The public is strongly advised not to purchase or bring shisha molasses/ tobacco into Singapore.

6          HSA encourages members of the public who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of shisha molasses/tobacco to call its Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).

Shisha Tobacco is More Harmful than Cigarettes

7          Shisha smoking is a dangerous activity. Contrary to popular belief, even after it has been passed through water, shisha smoke contains high levels of toxic compounds. In fact, the burning of tobacco in a shisha pipe using charcoal actually produces high levels of carbon monoxide, nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals than cigarettes. Each session of shisha smoking can last between 15 and 90 minutes, and this causes the smoker to be exposed to a higher level of harmful toxicants including carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a person smoking shisha for 45 to 60 minutes inhales smoke equivalent to that from 100 or more cigarettes[1].

8          Advice and support on smoking cessation is available through the toll-free Quitline at 1800 438 2000 or the iQuit club at www.hpb.gov.sg/iquit.

[1] WHO TobReg Advisory Note: Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Health Effects, Research Needs and Recommended Actions by Regulators

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
16 SEPTEMBER 2016

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