New, tougher Singapore tobacco laws introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) take effect today, August 1.

The laws are aimed at reducing tobacco use and protecting public health.

Retailers have a one-year grace period before a ban on point-of-sale displays of tobacco products takes effect under the new amendments to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA).

Previously announced bans on emerging tobacco products and shisha will also take effect from today. The amendments are in line with international trends.

General tobacco retailers will need plain, undecorated storage devices to keep tobacco products on their premises out of the direct line of sight of the public and potential customers. A text-only price list, to MOH specifications, may be shown to customers who ask for it.

Other control measures have also been tightened under TCASA, including restrictions on e-cigarettes now covering newer varieties that do not resemble conventional cigarettes. Components are also banned to prevent retailers importing them and reassembling them.

Also, the prohibition of smoking advertisements is extended to cover e-cigarettes and similar products, while online advertising has new restrictions. Advertisements and sales promotions originating from Singapore or from outside Singapore that can be accessed in Singapore, are now included in the ban. Customer loyalty programs and promotional schemes involving tobacco products are also not allowed.

The second phase of the ban covers all emerging tobacco products in Singapore, including snuff.

Meanwhile, the grace period has ended for shisha, banned since November 2014.

Anyone contravening either the ban on emerging tobacco products or the ban on shisha is liable to a fine of up to S$10,000 (US$7475), imprisonment of up to six months, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the fine level rises to $20,000 with imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.