Further to AD-039-2025 dated 19 May 2025, the Philippine Embassy warns Filipino residents in Singapore, including Filipino travellers entering Singapore, on bringing, possessing, purchasing and/or using tobacco, electronic cigarettes, e-vaporizers or vapes in Singapore.

Vaping is illegal in Singapore. As announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the National Day Rally on 17 August 2025, Singapore will treat vaping as a “drug issue” and will impose stiffer penalties. From 1 September 2025, etomidate will be listed as Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Singapore will step up its nation-wide enforcement, and toughen its stance against electronic cigarettes.

Effects of vaping

Vape may contain addictive and harmful substances like etomidate which is a public health threat. One out of three vapes contain etomidate which can cause confusion, blackouts, uncontrolled movements, and severe psychiatric effects including suicidal thoughts. Due to its harmful effects, persons who vape etomidate may walk unsteadily, appear to be in a daze and unaware of their surroundings.

Vaping can also damage vital organs including the heart and lungs.  In severe cases, vaping can lead to death.

Penalties for E-vaporizer-related Offences in Singapore

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporizers carries a maximum fine of SGD 2,000. 

Any person convicted of importation, distribution, sale or offer for sale e-vaporizers and their components is liable to the following: 

• First offense: a fine of up to SGD 10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both; 

• Second and subsequent offenses: a fine of up to SGD 20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both. 

 All prohibited tobacco items will be seized and confiscated. 

As of date, persons found possessing pods containing etomidate are liable upon conviction to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or fine up to SGD 10,000 under the Poisons Act.

Effective 01 September, when  etomidate is reclassified as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, significantly harsher penalties than those mentioned above will be imposed, including longer imprisonment terms, higher fines and will now include mandatory rehabilitation.

Foreigners convicted of vaping offenses may also face deportation and be barred from re-entering Singapore. 

Singapore Enforcement Efforts

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) continued to step up enforcement actions against e-vaporizer offences in Singapore. The MOH shared in a statement released on 26 August that, from 1 April to 30 June 2025, enforcement efforts saw a substantial rise in numbers caught and prosecuted on all fronts. In this period, more than 3,700 persons were caught and fined for the possession or use of e-vaporizers, an increase of almost 20% compared to the previous quarter, where more than 3,100 persons were caught.

Between April and June this year, the HSA identified and issued fines to eight (8) persons who posted photos or videos of themselves with e-vaporizers in their social media posts. The HSA  also worked with e-commerce and social media platforms to remove more than 2,000 online listings of e-vaporizers and related components during this period.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA)’s intensified targeting and profiling efforts at the air, land, and sea checkpoints, alongside joint operations with HSA, led to the detection of 19 large-scale smuggling cases and the seizure of around 90,000 e-vaporizers and related products.

This year, as of 12 August 2025, 29 cases related to etomidate e-vaporizers have been detected. Nine cases are related to import and/or sale, while the rest related to illegal use.

Between 18 and 22 August 2025, ICA conducted a 5-day operation of enhanced checks on travellers and vehicles across the air, land and sea checkpoints which led to the detection and seizure of 184 cases and more than 850 e-vaporizers and its related components.

Call to Action

If someone you know is vaping, please encourage him or her to stop vaping immediately and dispose of their e-vaporizers at one of the bins provided by HSA (go.gov.sg/bin-vapes).

Filipino travellers are reminded not to purchase e-vaporizers nor attempt to bring them into Singapore. The Singapore Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance on vaping.

For more information, visit www.gov.sg/stopvaping. /END.