Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday that the ban on displaying cigarettes and other tobacco products in stores will take effect on Aug 1, after a one-year grace period.
In a press release, the authorities said that the retailers must keep the tobacco products in plain, undecorated storage devices, and out of customers' direct line of sight.
"Existing display cabinets can be modified to one that is permanently fixed, self-closing and opaque," the ministry said in the news release. "Alternatively, new storage units that meet the same requirements can also be constructed."
Last March, the laws to ban the display of tobacco products were passed in the Parliament, under amendments to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Bill. It is part of MOH's efforts to discourage smoking, particularly among younger people in Singapore.
Under the regulations, the point of sale will remain fixed at the cashier, to reduce the accessibility of cigarettes to youths and non-smokers. If requested, a text-only price list based on a template prescribed by MOH will also be shown to customers.
If any retailer is convicted of flouting the ban, he might face a maximum jail term of six months, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both. The penalties are double for repeat offenders under the law.
