Singapore's Ministry of Health: The number of young people using e-cigarettes is increasing, and smoking will be banned through social media

On May 8, 2024, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health of Singapore, Rahayu · Mazen, replied to Choa Chu Kang GRC MP Chow Kai Nian on how to use social media to raise awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes.

The following is translated by the Singapore Eye based on the English language of the National Assembly:

Mr Chow asked the Minister of Health: What strategies can be used to attract advertisements on social media platforms and social media to raise awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes and discourage young people in Singapore from vaping?

Rahayu· Mazen (Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health) (on behalf of the Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, my reply will also cover the matters raised by Dr. Bunliga in his written question, which will be discussed at today's meeting.

Globally, the number of teenagers vaping is on the rise. Marketing, including marketing through social media and influencers, is largely aimed at teenagers, which has led to its widespread use in this age group. Many teens have developed the habit of vaping, believing that it smells as harmless as fruit. They turned it into a habit among friends. However, we all know that vaping is harmful. The fact that it is taking root among young people makes it even more harmful. Many countries allow vaping but are now trying to limit their consumption. Fortunately, Singapore saw its potential harm and banned it from the start.

The Tobacco (Control of Advertising and Sales) Act, or the Tobacco Act, also prohibits the advertising of e-cigarettes. As is well known, like all domestic laws, the Tobacco Act applies to e-cigarette-related content published in Singapore and by individuals or entities associated with Singapore. However, the internet and social media are a global ecosystem, and domestic laws prohibiting harmful content or advertising does not mean that the material will not come from abroad or foreign influencers. This is the nature of today's cyber law enforcement.

But we are not without a governing body, and we have taken a number of measures. For example, first, social media and e-commerce platforms are aware that under the Tobacco Act, they should do their part and proactively remove tobacco-related content directed at Singapore residents. Enforcement action may be taken against platforms if they are found to have insufficient procedures in place to detect and remove content related to drug use. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to engage with these platforms.

Second, in line with the Code of Practice for Online Safety, the Infocomm Media Development Authority has designated high-impact social media services to minimize users' exposure to harmful content. Designated social media services include Facebook, HardwareZone, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

Thirdly, the Health Sciences Authority has been monitoring the illegal sale of e-cigarettes through social media, e-commerce and information platforms, and has carried out actions to remove e-cigarette content. The Health Sciences Authority is working to expand its work and is reviewing legal penalties to strengthen deterrence against e-cigarette advertising, importation and distribution.

Fourth, while eliminating e-cigarette content, we are also working to increase health-friendly content. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has also launched an e-cigarette-free campaign in 2023, including the use of social media, targeting mainly adolescents and young adults.

Mr. Speaker: Mr. Zhou Kainian, please.

Mr Chow Hoi Nien (Member of Council, Choa Chu Kang GRC): Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. I think most of my additional questions have already been answered, but there's one more. I addressed this issue in a statement to the Parliamentary Supply Committee. There is a close relationship between e-cigarettes and the cocaine epidemic. In Canada, 29% of cocaine users aged 15 or older say e-cigarettes are their preferred way to smoke cocaine. Will the Ministry of Health conduct research on the links and risks associated with e-cigarette use and drug abuse?

Ms. Rahayu · Mazen (hereinafter referred to as "Rahayu"): Yes, there is a lot of research and data around this information, and we are tracking that. In fact, this is exactly what we fear, as some misinformation spreads among young people and even adults who believe that e-cigarettes are harmless; In fact, they may be smoking cessation products. But the truth is that there is a lot of data that shows that they are the "entry product" that leads to smoking and drug use. Therefore, we need to continue to build knowledge and disseminate information in this area.

The following is the content of the question in English:

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HARMS OF VAPING（1）

6 Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Health what are the strategies to engage social media platforms and advertising on social media to raise awareness about the harms of vaping and to discourage the use of vapes and habit of vaping among youths in Singapore.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, my response will also cover the matters raised in the written questions by Dr Wan Rizal, which are scheduled for today’s Sitting.

There is a global rise in the use of e-vaporisers among youths. Marketing, including through social media and influencers, is largely targeted at youths, which contributed to its widespread usage amongst this age group. Many youths picked up the vaping habit, thinking it is harmless because it smells like fruits, and they make it a lifestyle habit among their friends. However, we all know that vaping is harmful. The fact that it is taking root among youths makes it even more harmful. Many countries allowed vaping, only to try to restrict its consumption now. Fortunately, Singapore saw its potential harm and banned it from the start.

The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, or the Tobacco Act, also prohibits advertisement of e-vaporisers. As we all know, like all domestic laws, the Tobacco Act applies to vaping-related content published in Singapore and by Singapore-connected persons or entities. However, the Internet and social media is a global ecosystem and having domestic laws that ban harmful content or advertisements does not mean that these materials would not come in from a foreign source or a foreign influencer. That is the nature of online enforcement today.

But we are not without agency and we have put in place several measures. For example, firstly, social media and e-commerce platforms are aware that under the Tobacco Act, they are expected to exercise due diligence and proactively remove vaping-related content that target Singapore residents. Enforcement actions may be taken against platforms that are found with inadequate processes to detect and remove vaping-related contents. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to engage these platforms.

Secondly, under the Code of Practice for Online Safety, the IMDA designated social media services with significant reach or impact to minimise users’ exposure to harmful content. The designated social media services are Facebook, HardwareZone, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.

Thirdly, HSA has been monitoring illicit sales of e-vaporisers via social media, e-commerce and messaging platforms, and carrying out operations to remove e-vaporiser content. HSA is trying to expand its efforts and is reviewing the legal penalties to strengthen the deterrence against advertising, importation and distribution of e-vaporisers.

Fourthly, even as we remove e-vaporisers content, we also try to increase pro-health content. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) also launched a vape-free campaign in 2023, including using social media, targeting youths and younger adults.

Mr Speaker: Mr Zhulkarnain.

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang): Thank you, Speaker. And I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. I think most of my supplementary questions have been answered, but just one more. I spoke about this in Parliament in one of my speeches in the Committee of Supply. There is a strong link between vaping and cannabis abuse. In Canada, 29% of cannabis-using individuals aged 15 years or older indicated that vaping is their preferred method for cannabis use. Will MOH conduct a study on this link and risks in terms of the usage of vaping and drug abuse?

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: Yes, there is a lot of research and data surrounding this information, and we are keeping track of this. In fact, that is our concern because there is some misinformation also spreading among young people, even amongst adults, thinking that e-vaporisers are harmless; that, in fact, they could be cessation products. The truth is that there is a lot of data that suggests that they are gateway products to smoking as well as to drug use. So, these are things that we need to continue building knowledge on and also disseminating information on.

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