Singapore authorities will soon step up enforcement action against those caught using e-vaporisers. This comes after the rise in the popularity of vaping, even though it is illegal here.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) will soon be launching a cross-agency pilot to tackle this issue.
Under the pilot, NEA officers will be empowered to take enforcement action against those caught vaping.
On Wednesday’s (1 Mar) Parliament sitting, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Ms Rahayu Mahzam addressed questions posed by Bukit Batok MP Mr Murali Pillai regarding the rise in vaping.
Mr Murali pointed out that there has been an increase in vapers caught between 2020 and 2022. He questioned if the HSA has sufficient bandwidth to ensure that a “strong signal” is sent to vapers that action will be taken against them.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Ms Rahayu agreed that making sure “meaningful enforcement” is important in this situation, and this is one of the main reasons for the pilot.
“Part of the intent of the enforcement pilot is to look into that and how we can synergise resources and to be able to delegate the work and address the growing concern in the community,” she said.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it will continue to take a “multi-pronged approach” to deal with the vaping problem.
According to a statement on the MOH website, the method includes collaborating with partner agencies, such as the NEA, to “strengthen enforcement measures and public education efforts”.
Last year, 4,916 people were reportedly caught for vaping-related offences. Compared with 1,266 in 2020 and 4,697 in 2021, the number in 2022 has risen about four-fold.
There has been an increase in students getting caught vaping in school and outside school. According to The Straits Times (ST), younger people are now being targeted by sellers, even near school premises.
Vaping has undoubtedly become a problem that is worth the government looking into, especially where minors are concerned.
We hope that the upcoming efforts by the MOH, HSA, and NEA will be able to address this concerning issue successfully.
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Featured image adapted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook.
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