SINGAPORE — In the first 20 months since a ban on e-cigarettes took effect on Feb 1 last year, 465 people have been caught for possessing these products.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) also dealt with 219 cases of people selling e-cigarettes from Jan 1, 2017 to Sept 30 this year, all of which were sold online. The offenders were either penalised, being made to pay a fine or served a warning.

Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health, revealed these figures in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 5), in response to a question filed by Mr Melvin Yong, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC).  

The stiffest penalty imposed was S$99,000 against a peddler, who was charged on Sept 9 this year with importing and selling e-cigarettes. 

He pleaded guilty to 33 charges of selling imitation tobacco products. 

Individuals convicted of selling, possessing, importing or distributing vaporisers could be fined up to S$10,000 or be jailed up to six months.

Individuals caught using, buying or possessing e-cigarettes could be fined up to S$2,000.

Mr Yong asked what actions are being taken against the physical sales of e-cigarettes apart from online sales. Referring to news reports, he said that e-cigarettes are also being sold in shopping districts such as Orchard Road, where buyers would use code words such as “cartridges” or “juices” to carry out the illegal sale. 

Mr Amrin said that surprise raids have been conducted to thwart physical sales. 

HSA will continue to work with customs officers and the police to deter the illegal import, sale and purchase of e-cigarettes. 

The authority has also been working closely with online platforms such as Carousell and Instagram, Mr Amrin said without elaborating. 

‘LIMITED EVIDENCE ON SAFETY AND EFFICACY’

Referring to a recent study in the United Kingdom that looked at how smokers looking to quit may react differently to e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy, Mr Yong asked what is the Ministry of Health’s take on the research. 

Mr Amrin said that compared to those on nicotine replacement therapy, a greater percentage of those who used e-cigarettes quit smoking 12 months after joining an intervention programme, but 80 per cent of them returned to using e-cigarettes a year later. 

This meant that less than 4 per cent of those who use e-cigarettes in the study quit tobacco use completely. 

“The ministry’s position is that there is currently limited evidence on the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation product, but we will continue to monitor emerging evidence and studies like the one mentioned by Mr Melvin Yong,” Mr Amrin said. 

“If there is robust evidence that any particular product can safely help smokers completely stop using tobacco and nicotine, we would be happy to consider these options,” he added.