PORT MARINE CIRCULAR NO. 04 OF 2026 - UPDATED MEASURES FOR USE OF E-VAPORISERS IN SINGAPORE FROM 03 MARCH 2026

MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

PORT MARINE CIRCULAR

NO. 04 OF 2026

03 Mar 2026

Shipping Community

Harbour Craft Community

Pleasure Craft Community

UPDATED MEASURES FOR USE OF E-VAPORISERS IN SINGAPORE FROM 03 MARCH

2026

This Port Marine Circular serves to inform the community that the Singapore

Government is stepping up enforcement against the use of e-vaporisers, especially against

the emerging trend of e-vaporisers containing harmful substances such as etomidate, and the

updated measures for ships’ crew calling at the Port of Singapore.

1. From 1 September 2025, individuals caught possessing, using, or purchasing e-

vaporisers will face higher penalties, and recalcitrant users may be required to undergo

rehabilitation. With the listing of etomidate as a Class C Drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act

1973 (MDA), etomidate e-vaporiser offenders will face stiffer penalties, and those who import,

sell or distribute etomidate e-vaporisers will also face prosecution and much higher penalties

under the MDA.

1. Foreigners who visit or live in Singapore must abide by Singapore laws. Foreigners

who are found in possession of e-vaporisers will have their e-vaporisers seized and be issued

a Notice of Composition (NOC). Repeat offenders will face more severe consequences. Short-

Term Visit Pass holders who re-offend will be banned from re-entering Singapore upon

departure. Those on a long-term pass or immigration facility may also have their pass or

immigration facility revoked on a third offence and be deported and banned from re-entering

Singapore thereafter. Foreigners caught possessing or using etomidate e-vaporisers, or who

test positive for etomidate may have their pass or immigration facility revoked and be deported

and banned from re-entering Singapore.

1. This is also applicable to ships’ crew calling at the Port of Singapore. Crew and

passengers of ships should dispose their e-vaporisers prior to entering Singapore waters and

ports when possible. Where the ship is already in Singapore waters, and e-vaporisers were

not disposed earlier at the last port of call, individuals are required to declare and surrender

any e-vaporisers to an immigration officer if they are coming ashore i.e., shore leave. For

transitory port calls where the crew remain on board the ship throughout the port stay,

individuals should declare and surrender any e-vaporisers to Government-authorised officers

upon their boarding. Individuals who voluntarily surrender the e-vaporisers to a government-

authorised officer will not be issued a NOC. Individuals who fail to declare and are

subsequently found with e-vaporisers by a government-authorised officer will face

relevant enforcement actions, such as being issued a NOC.

1. Government agencies have increased the conduct of enforcement operations across

air, land, and sea checkpoints in Singapore.

1. For more information on the enhanced measures, please refer to the joint media

release by the Ministry of Health, Singapore and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore, at

https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/whole-of-government-efforts-to-tackle-vaping/.

1. This Circular supersedes Port Marine Circular No 10 of 2025.

CAPT CHONG JIA CHYUAN

PORT MASTER

MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE