Singapore Bans Nasal Snuff, Oral Snuff, Gutkha, Khaini and Zarda

Singapore's health ministry has banned a wide variety of tobacco products including gutka, khaini and zarda. The ministry said, "The decision was taken to ensure that such products do not gain a foothold or become entrenched in the city state." The order said, "If they come in, they could increase tobacco consumption. This is part of the ongoing efforts to protect the public against the known and potential harms of emerging tobacco products."

In June 2015, the health ministry announced that the ban on emerging tobacco products would be implemented in two phases.

The first phase, starting on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, targets smokeless cigars or cigarettes, dissolvable tobacco or nicotine, any product containing nicotine or tobacco that may be used topically for application, by implant or injected. It also bans any solution or substance which constitutes tobacco or nicotine that is intended to be used with an electronic nicotine delivery system or vaporizer.

The second phase will take effect from August 2016. The ban will include nasal snuff, oral snuff, gutkha, khaini and zarda.

The ministry said, "Anyone who breaks the ban can be fined up to 10,000 Singapore dollars or jailed up to six months or both. On second and subsequent conviction, the fine will double and so will the jail term."

Source-IANS