\n<\/p>\n
Under the new law, the purchase, use and possession of vapes now carry a maximum fine of S$10,000 (US$7,810), up from S$2,000 previously.<\/p>\n
Those who import vapes now face mandatory jail terms of up to nine years, and fines of up to S$300,000.<\/p>\n
Sellers or suppliers of the products may be jailed for up to six years and fined up to S$200,000.<\/p>\n
Maximum penalties for the sale, supply or import of imitation tobacco products have also been increased to a fine of S$100,000 and three years\u2019 jail for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders may face double the maximum penalties.<\/p>\n
The government had temporarily listed etomidate and its analogues as Class C controlled drugs in the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) to deal with the emerging issue of the abuse of the substance.<\/p>\n
Under the new law, a category of Specified Psychoactive Substances (SPS) has been created to cover products like etomidate, which can cause psychoactive effects when consumed and could also be abused by using a tobacco product, vaporiser or imitation tobacco product.<\/p>\n
Etomidate has been concurrently removed from the MDA.<\/p>\n
Anyone who supplies SPS products faces between two and 10 years\u2019 jail, as well as two to five strokes of the cane.<\/p>\n
Those who import such products may be jailed for three to 20 years, and face five to 15 strokes of the cane.<\/p>\n
Those convicted of possessing, purchasing or consuming SPS, can be fined up to S$20,000, jailed for up to 10 years, or both.<\/p>\n
As with the drugs and substances covered by the MDA, it will be an offence for Singapore citizens and permanent residents to consume SPS overseas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis deters locals from going abroad to feed their addiction to evade enforcement in Singapore,\u201d said Dr Koh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n