Trade Engagement Session with Tobacco Retailers on the Implementation of the Tobacco Point of Sale Display Ban

Trade Engagement Session with Tobacco Retailers on the Implementation of the Tobacco Point of Sale Display Ban

    Senior Minister of State for Health and Environment and Water Resources, Dr Amy Khor, met with tobacco retailers on the implementation guidelines for the tobacco point of sale display (POSD) ban this morning at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI). This session is part of a series of engagement efforts by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Health Promotion Board (HPB), and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), to prepare retailers for the measure, which is scheduled to be tabled for introduction in Parliament early next year.

2.         Dr Khor shared with the retailers MOH’s response to some of the feedback received previously on the requirements of the ban, including suggestions which MOH is prepared to incorporate into the implementation guidelines. This is to help facilitate retailers’ transition, without compromising on the objectives of the measure.

3.         Tobacco use is a critical risk factor contributing to ill health and premature death in Singapore. The POSD ban aims to protect the health of Singaporeans. By removing tobacco products from the public’s line of sight, we want to prevent our youth from picking up the smoking habit, and to help individuals who are trying to quit smoking.

Extensive engagement and public consultation efforts to prepare for ban

4.         Since 2013, MOH, HPB, and HSA have held a total of 14 dialogue sessions on the POSD ban, including today’s session. These stakeholders include youths, parents, healthcare professionals, and tobacco retailers representing various business sectors, such as small scale shop owners, F&B operators, supermarket chain stores, and specialist tobacconists. We are encouraged that the majority of those whom we consulted understood the public health merits of the ban.

5.         MOH recognises that some adjustments have to be made to retailers’ operational environment when the POSD ban takes effect, and have taken into account some of the retailers’ feedback. For example, some retailers have asked for a price list to facilitate transactions, given that tobacco products will be out of sight. MOH is receptive to allowing a text-only price list in standard format to avoid it being misused as a form of advertisement, and to ensure a level playing field for retailers.

Soft Launch of the Implementation Guidelines

6.         Support from the community and businesses is crucial in our fight against tobacco use. Retailers can help create the right environment for Singaporeans who are trying to stay away from cigarettes.

7.         To assist retailers in implementing the POSD ban, HPB has prepared a brochure (in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil) to explain the measure and possible ways to store tobacco products away from the public’s line of sight. The brochure will serve as a broad reference, and will be circulated to all tobacco retail licensees over the next few months. We will continue to work with the retailers to fine-tune the specific details of the measure, to ensure its smooth implementation.

Legislative timeline

8.         The point of sale display ban will take effect after the legislation has been amended. To give retailers time to effect the changes and smoothen the transition process, there will be a 12 months’ grace period after the legislation has been amended to comply with the Regulations. This means the ban will take effect in 2017.

9.         Point of sale display ban has been successfully introduced in several jurisdictions. Iceland is the first country to introduce the tobacco point of sale display ban in 2001. This is followed by Canada and Thailand in 2005, and Australia and Ireland in 2009. Other countries such as Norway, New Zealand, Finland, and the United Kingdom have a similar measure. In Australia for instance, exposure to and spontaneous purchases of tobacco products have decreased as a result.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

9 DECEMBER 2015