From The Sunday Times, 1st April 2012.
SINGAPORE - Singapore has classified cigarettes and
tobacco products as a Class 3 Narcotics as from 1st April 2012. This
means all tobacco products must be sold under license with smokers submitting
their personal particulars before being allowed to buy their favourite smokes.
In line with the recent World Tobacco Organization 15th
World Congress conference held in Singapore 2 weeks ago, the local authorities
have reclassified tobacco as a Class 3 Narcotic meaning it will now come under
the Drug Abuse and Narcotic Act.
This new ruling will mean that all smokers need to register
to make purchases. Importers and manufacturers will require licenses to produce
and distribute the tobacco products as if it were controlled pharmaceuticals.
Singapore will be the 1st country in the world to
implement the resolution passed during the recent Congress.
Urging countries to stay united against tobacco companies,
World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan said: “What an
industry wants to see is a domino effect. When one country’s resolve falters
under the pressure of costly, drawn-out litigation and threats of billion
dollar settlement, others with similar intentions are likely to topple as
well.”
Most countries are reluctant or unable to implement the
resolutions due to commercial pressures.
According to ministry spokesperson, Madam Boh Seo Hoon,
distributors have already been informed a month ago and their retailers have
been prepared to implement the new restricted sale policies. Retailers will be
given a 4 weeks exemption period for them to get use to the new implementation
ruling, which requires smokers to sign for their purchases.
Retailers caught selling to unregistered customers can be
fined up to $2000 for a 1st offence. Repeated offenders will have
their licenses withdrawn.
At the recent WHO Congress, Health Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong
noted that while Singapore may have one of the lowest prevalence of smoking in
the world, the rates have been picking up.
Dr Chan agreed with Singapore’s approach towards tackling
smoking, while WHO Tobacco Free Initiative director Douglas Bettcher applauded
Singapore’s effort to drive down the prevalence of smoking.
Related Links: WHO urges countries to stay united againsttobacco companies.
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