Singapore has formally banned tobacco product displays in stores.

This follows changes to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Bill, and is aimed at “de-normalising” tobacco use as well as reducing the exposure of nonsmokers, especially youths, to the effect of point-of-sale tobacco product displays, Senior Minister of State for Health Dr Amy Khor has told Parliament.

The ban was not unexpected, being reported by Inside Retail Singapore in early December. It applies to all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, beedies (thin cigarettes wrapped with a leaf) and ang hoon (loose tobacco leaves). Under the new rules, general tobacco retailers will need to use storage devices to keep tobacco products out of the direct line of sight of customers.

Retailers also have to use a text-only price list for customers, in a format prescribed by the Ministry of Health (MOH). It can be in any of the four official languages, and can be shown only on customer request.

Tobacco retailers will be given a one-year grace period before the point-of-sale display ban takes effect, said Dr Khor, noting that the government has engaged the retailers extensively since 2014.

Under the changes to the bill, the ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems (Ends), or e-cigarettes, will be extended to newer varieties that may not necessarily physically resemble cigarettes or other tobacco products.
The ban also extends to the components of such products, to prevent these being imported for reassembly. Advertising these imitation tobacco products will also be prohibited.

There will also be a comprehensive ban on cross-border advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. This applies to all media, including the internet and also advertisements originating from outside Singapore.

An ongoing public consultation, ending on March 29, is looking at raising the minimum age at which people can use or buy tobacco products, and also the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products.