Overview of tobacco control

Regulatory overview

Tobacco products in Singapore are controlled under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, which aims to reduce the prevalence of smoking.

Understand the key tobacco controls below before you start dealing in tobacco products.

Licence required for dealing with tobacco products

A valid tobacco licence is required before you can import, wholesale, distribute or retail any tobacco product in Singapore. Refer to our guide on how you can apply for the following licences electronically:

• Tobacco retail licence 

• Tobacco importer's and wholesaler's licence 

Standardised Packaging for tobacco products

From 1 July 2020, all tobacco products* imported, sold, offered for sale or distributed in Singapore will be required to comply with standardised packaging (SP) specifications (i.e. be SP-compliant).  Details of the SP specifications can be found in the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control (Appearance, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2019 at https://sso.agc.gov.sg.

Breach of this requirement is punishable with a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months or both for first-time offenders.  Those with a prior qualifying conviction will face heavier penalties.

General guidance on what SP looks like on different types of tobacco products and packaging formats can be found in the SP Guidance Booklet.  You may download the booklet by clicking here or by scanning the QR code.

For travellers bringing in tobacco products for personal consumption (at checkpoints)

From 1 July 2020, travellers bringing in tobacco products* at the checkpoints must ensure that:

a) Total weight of all the tobacco products* imported does not exceed 400 g;

b) The tobacco products* are for personal use only, and not for sale or supply in Singapore; and

c) The retail packing of the tobacco products* must:

     i) Have no tobacco-related logo or branding;

    ii) Have a graphic health warning; and

   iii) Be drab brown in colour.

For importers bringing in tobacco products for personal consumption (via Parcel Post)

From 1 July 2020, all tobacco products* imported into Singapore by Parcel Post must comply with Singapore’s SP specifications.  Non-SP-compliant tobacco products cannot be imported into Singapore and will be returned to country of origin. 

* Please take note that this excludes harmful and imitation products like chewing tobacco, vaporisers etc.  See below for more information on the prohibition of harmful and imitation tobacco products.

Prohibition on the supply of tobacco to persons below the Minimum Legal Age (MLA)

Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA), anyone caught selling tobacco products to persons below the MLA is liable, on conviction in Court, to a maximum fine of up to $5,000 for the first offence, and up to $10,000 for the second or subsequent offences.

In addition, the retail outlet's tobacco retail licence will be suspended for 6 months for the first offence, and revoked for the second offence. However, if any outlet is found selling tobacco products to minors in school uniform, or those below 12 years of age, the tobacco retail licence will be revoked, even at the first offence.

Buying or acquiring for, and giving or furnishing tobacco products to persons below the MLA, is also prohibited.

• Refer to the latest press release

• List of suspended or revoked licences.

The Minimum Legal Age (MLA) to purchase, use, possess, sell and/or supply tobacco products will be implemented as follows:

• 19 years old on 1 January 2019.

• 20 years old on 1 January 2020.

• 21 years old on 1 January 2021.

Display of warning notice

All licensed tobacco retailers must ensure that the permitted warning notice is prominently displayed in the retail outlet. The permitted notice states that the sale of any tobacco product to a person below the MLA is prohibited by law.

The prohibition signage stickers can be obtained from your Cigarette Storage Unit supplier or collected from the Health Sciences Authority office at the following address,

11 Biopolis Way, #07-01/02 Helios, Singapore 138667, during office hours from Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm.

Tobacco point-of-sale (POS) display ban

All licensed tobacco retail outlets cannot display tobacco products. Retailers may refer to the ban on display of tobacco products regulations, or the POS display ban booklet for compliance.

Advertisements and promotions

Any advertisements and promotions relating to tobacco products and imitation tobacco products are prohibited under the law. You cannot:

• Publish any advertisements relating to tobacco products and imitation tobacco products.

• Give away tobacco products as free gifts, free samples or prizes. You also cannot sell tobacco products with other products given as free gifts, or in conjunction with any other goods or services.

• Conduct a shopper loyalty programme that involves tobacco products.

Health warnings and labelling

All tobacco products must carry the mandatory health warning labels. Tobacco importers, wholesalers and retailers may refer to the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control (Appearance, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2019 for compliance.

Only these six graphic health warning labels can be used:

For high resolution photos, tobacco import/wholesale licensees are to write in to Enquiry/Feedback on Health Products | FormSG

The import, distribution, sale and offer for sale of tobacco products with any false or misleading information on the tobacco packaging such as "light" or "mild" is also prohibited.

Prohibition of harmful and imitation tobacco products

You cannot bring in or sell the tobacco products listed below. You are also not allowed to buy, use or have them in your possession:

• Smokeless cigars, smokeless cigarillos or smokeless cigarettes.

• Cigarettes that contain nicotine and tar above the yield limit of 1.0mg and 10.0mg respectively.

• Imitation tobacco products such as vaporisers

  • Vaporisers are not allowed to be brought in for smoking cessation purposes as there is no evidence that such products assist in smoking cessation. Legitimate smoking cessation aids such as nicotine patches are available at pharmacies across Singapore.

  • Refer to the latest press release on actions taken upon peddlers of vaporisers.

  • Watch a video on how HSA dealt with vaporiser peddlers.

• Loose leaf chewing tobacco.

• Plug chewing tobacco.

• Twist chewing tobacco.

• Tobacco bits intended for chewing.

• Shisha molasses/tobacco.

• Dissolvable tobacco or nicotine.

• Any product containing nicotine or tobacco that may be used topically for application, by implant or injected into any parts of the body.

• Any solution or substance, of which tobacco or nicotine is a constituent, that is intended to be used with an electronic nicotine delivery system or a vaporiser.

• Nasal snuff.

• Oral snuff, such as Gutkha, Khaini or Zarda etc.

Refer to Singapore's Ministry of Health website for more information on imitation tobacco products such as vaporisers and heat-not-burn tobacco products.

Cigarette pack with less than 20 sticks

You cannot import, distribute, sell or offer for sale cigarette packs that contain less than 20 sticks.

Prohibition on the use of tobacco by persons below the MLA

You cannot buy, use or have in your possession tobacco products if you are below the MLA.