MAY 2012 - A ban on misleading descriptors (including "mild", "light", "ultra-light" and "low tar") on tobacco-product packaging will shortly be introduced in Singapore. This and other changes to the legislation on packaging were announced in February 2012. 

A new set of graphic health warnings are also being introduced, while the maximum tar and nicotine limits of tobacco products are being reduced (to 10 mg tar and 1 mg nicotine per stick). The printing of tar and nicotine yield levels on packaging will be replaced with a new health information requirement. 

Furthermore, the new legislation requires that cigarillos be sold in packs of a minimum of 20 sticks instead of the current 10, to match existing legislation for cigarettes. 

The tobacco industry has been given a grace period until 1 March 2013 to implement these changes.

More information can be obtained from Lit Fai Chan (chan_lit_fai@hpb.gov.sg).