Health, Parliament
What is the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act?
11 March 2026
Understand what the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) is and how it strengthens enforcement against vaporisers.
The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) and Other Matters Bill was passed in Parliament on 6 March 2026 and will take effect from 1 May 2026. The new Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) will further strengthen enforcement against vaporisers and futureproof against evolving trends, such as the use of vaporisers to consume etomidate and potentially other psychoactive substances.
What Is the TVCA and When Does It Take Effect?
The TVCA was renamed and amended from the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA).
The TVCA will strengthen enforcement against prohibited products such as tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components.
What Are Specified Psychoactive Substances (SPS)?
Under the TVCA, any product[1] containing “Specified Psychoactive Substances” (SPS) will also be prohibited. Etomidate and its analogues will be listed as SPS under the TVCA from 1 May 2026 and delisted as a controlled drug from the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) at the same time.
[1] Tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products
Why Was the TVCA Introduced?
Vaporisers have evolved from a nicotine delivery device to a vehicle for consumption of more harmful psychoactive substances, like etomidate, and even other more serious controlled drugs.
The temporary listing classification of etomidate as a Class C controlled drug under the MDA allowed swift and tough Government action against the threat of etomidate vaporisers.
The TVCA consolidates levers to maintain our enhanced enforcement, rehabilitation and education regime for etomidate vaporisers and at the same time, allows us to enforce more effectively against vaping and better protect public health.
Enhanced Penalties and Enforcement Under the TVCA
Penalties for Suppliers and Importers
Stiff penalties continue to apply to SPS products, largely similar to the MDA.
Suppliers will face two to 10 years’ imprisonment and two to five strokes of the cane;
Importers will face three to 20 years’ imprisonment and five to 15 strokes of the cane;
Those caught possessing or purchasing SPS products or consuming SPS, if prosecuted, will face a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
Similar to the MDA, it is an offence for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to consume SPS overseas.
New Offences to Protect Youths and Children
New offences have also been introduced to better protect our youths and children from SPS products.
Adults in possession of SPS products who (i) knowingly or recklessly leave them where children can access them, or (ii) do not take reasonable steps to prevent the use of SPS products by young persons, are liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years for the first offence and imprisonment for two to 10 years for repeat offences.
Adults who involve young or vulnerable persons in importing or supplying SPS products are liable to imprisonment for four to 20 years and four to 15 strokes of the cane.
Those found guilty of arranging or planning gatherings where SPS products are used or supplied are liable to imprisonment for two to 10 years and up to five strokes of the cane.
Penalties for Possession, Purchase and Use
Penalties and enforcement are enhanced across the board to strengthen deterrence against vaporisers and other prohibited products even if they do not contain SPS.
Importers of vaporisers and section 15 tobacco products will face mandatory imprisonment for up to nine years, and a fine of up to $300,000; suppliers face mandatory imprisonment for up to six years, and a fine of up to $200,000.
Importers and suppliers of imitation tobacco products will face a maximum of three years’ imprisonment, or a fine of $100,000, or both for the first offence, and a maximum of six years’ imprisonment, or a fine of $200,000, or both for repeat offences.
For purchase, use and possession, the maximum fine for all prohibited products, will be increased from $2,000 to $10,000.
Under the TVCA, owners and occupiers of land, buildings and places are responsible in ensuring other individuals do not store prohibited products in their premises.
In addition, owners and occupiers of specified premises must now tell offending individuals to stop using and dispose of the vaporiser or leave the premises when they find someone in possession of or using any section 15 tobacco product, vaporiser or imitation tobacco product. As a start, specified premises will include discotheques, pubs, bars, lounges and night clubs.
Continued rehabilitation for offenders
Rehabilitation remains the Ministry of Health (opens in new tab) (MOH)’s main intervention for etomidate vaporiser offenders and repeat vaporiser offenders.
The Chief Executive of the Health Sciences Authority (opens in new tab) (HSA) will be empowered to order community-based rehabilitation and institutional treatment and rehabilitation under the TVCA. This also includes requiring persons, such as those under the community-based rehabilitation order or those discharged from the DRC after treatment and rehabilitation for SPS consumption, to provide urine or hair specimens to check if they are still consuming SPS. Those who do not comply can be prosecuted.