Singapore to ban sales of shisha

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) intends to prohibit the import, distribution and sale of shisha from later this month, according to a Channel News Asia story.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the MOH, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, was said to have announced the proposed ban in Parliament yesterday.

According to the National Health Survey 2010, 7.8 percent of young adults aged 18-29 years smoke shisha at least occasionally, compared to 1.0 percent among older adults.

Meanwhile, the Student Health Survey found that the proportion of students who used alternative tobacco products, including shisha, had increased from 2.0 percent in 2009 to 9.0 percent in 2012.

Dr. Faishal said that in view of the health risks associated with shisha smoking, and to prevent the proliferation and entrenchment of shisha smoking in Singapore, the ban would be imposed later this month.

“However, as a transitional measure, existing licensed tobacco importers and retailers who import or sell shisha tobacco will be allowed to continue importing and retailing shisha tobacco until Jul 31, 2016,” he said.