E-poll for public feedback to be launched on 25 November 2011

Singapore, 25 Nov 2011 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) is commencing a public consultation exercise on extending the list of smoke-free places to enhance the protection of public from second hand smoke. To kick start the public consultation, NEA with the support of Health Promotion Board (HPB), is launching an online survey or “e-poll” to gather public feedback on smoking and smoke-free environment. The e-poll is available on the REACH website and via links on the NEA and HPB’s website from today till the end of the year.

Smoking Prohibition In Public Places

The prohibition of smoking in public places aims to protect non-smokers from the harmful health effects of tobacco smoke. This ban is part of a holistic anti-smoking drive under HPB’s National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), which is a multi-pronged nation-wide strategy to promote a tobacco-free environment, reduce the prevalence of smoking in Singapore, as well as initiate legislative and fiscal measures progressively. NTCP involves:

(1) The integration and coordination of tobacco control efforts between HPB and multiple government agencies
(2) Public education campaigns
(3) Community ground-up programmes, such as the I Quit Movement;
(4) Sharing and adoption of international best practices via platforms such as the World Conference on Tobacco Or Health 2012 (WCTOH), which will be held in Singapore next year from 21 to 24 March.

Aligned with NTCP objectives, NEA has been extending smoking bans to increasingly cover more public areas since 1970. Currently, smoking is prohibited in 37 categories of specified premises and five categories of public transport, with the latest extension implemented on 1 January 2009. The current list of places where smoking is prohibited is given in Annex A.

Reason for the Smoking Prohibition Review

Tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable death in the world.  It is also a key risk factor for cancer, heart diseases, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), the top causes of death among Singaporeans. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, which contributes to a range of serious and often fatal diseases, including heart disease, respiratory illness and lung and other cancers. With the majority (86%) of Singapore’s adult population being non-smokers, there is need to enhance the protection of public from the harmful effects of second hand smoke.

There has also been an increasing call from the public to extend the list of smoke-free places. From 2009 to 2010, the number of smoking related feedback received has increased by 19%. Some of the places where the public would like to see smoke free include common areas of residential buildings, walkways/linkways, and parks.

The Community’s Role in Building a Smoke-Free Environment

Maintaining a smoke-free environment or extending the prohibition of smoking in public places in Singapore can only be successful if the community is supportive of having more smoke-free places and smokers take responsibility to keep these places smoke-free.

NEA would like to invite members of the public to give their feedback and comments to enhance the current smoking prohibition framework in Singapore via an e-poll survey. The public’s feedback is important and will be considered as NEA reviews the list of smoke-free places and the approach for future extensions to the smoking prohibition.

NEA would like to encourage the public to send in their feedback via the e-poll.  Members of the public can access the survey directly at www.reach.gov.sg or via NEA’s website - www.nea.gov.sg or HPB’s website - www.hpb.gov.sg. They can also share their views at the following NEA channels:

1. Email to Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
2. Contact our NEA Call Centre Hotline: 1800-2255 632

The name and personal inputs given via the e-poll will be maintained in the strictest confidentiality and will not be shared publicly or with any person or group outside the polling government agency.

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For more information, please contact
 
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg

ANNEX A

LIST OF PLACES WHERE SMOKING IS PROHIBITED