from

http://www.customs.gov.sg/insync/Issue03/features/sdpc.html

Cigarette sticks to bear "SDPC"

marking from next year
Singapore Customs reaches another milestone in its quest to
stamp out contraband cigarettes with the implementation of the
“SDPC” regulation. From 1 January 2009, every stick of cigarette
imported into or manufactured in Singapore for local sale will have
to be marked with the letters "SDPC". Anyone found buying,
selling or smoking cigarettes without the "SDPC" marking will be
committing an offence.

This new measure is part of a concerted effort to curb the selling and buying of illegal
cigarettes. The imprint of "SDPC", which stands for Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette,
on every stick of duty-paid cigarette sold in Singapore is a measure to visibly
differentiate duty-paid cigarettes from contraband cigarettes.

The current requirement stipulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for all
cigarette packets sold in Singapore to bear the graphic health warning labels remains
unchanged.

Mr Fong Yong Kian, Director-General of Customs, explained, “The availability of

cheap duty-unpaid cigarettes will hamper our national effort to discourage smoking.
Singapore Customs is committed to keeping illegal cigarettes off the streets. The
“SDPC” marking on every cigarette stick will serve as deterrence against the peddling
and buying of contraband cigarettes and help our officers in enforcement efforts.”

Come 1 January next year when the new marking requirement comes into effect,
members of the public are advised against buying or smoking unmarked cigarettes.
All unmarked cigarettes will be deemed to be duty-unpaid and illegal. Under the
Customs and GST Acts, smoking and possession of duty-unpaid cigarettes is an
offence. For every packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes found in their possession,
offenders can be fined $500. The public is advised to think twice before lighting up
duty-unpaid cigarettes as they face severe penalties.

Arriving travellers and returning Singaporeans who intend to bring in cigarettes from
overseas for their personal consumption are advised to retain their receipts issued by
Singapore Customs at the checkpoints as proof of payment of duty and GST when
checked by enforcement officers. There has been no duty-free concession or GST
relief on cigarettes and other tobacco products in Singapore since 1991. Anyone who
brings in these items is required to declare them for payment of duty and GST.

The Tobacco Association of Singapore gave its full support to this latest cigarette
marking initiative. Said the Chairman of the Association, Mr Saliya Weerasooriya,
“We believe that the stick markings will make it more difficult for the syndicates to
supply illicit cigarettes for the Singapore market whilst making it easier for
enforcement officers to detect smokers consuming these cigarettes. In the past couple
of years, Singapore Customs has stepped up its efforts substantially to rein in this
problem and had met with certain success as evidenced by its various seizures and
arrests. This latest initiative to implement markings on cigarette sticks will serve to
complement the existing measures.”

For more information on the SDPC marking regulation, please click here.

http://www.customs.gov.sg/topNav/new/SDPC+Cigarette+Marking+Regulation.htm

While innovative methods are important to ensure enforcement efforts remain

effective, Singapore Customs also recognises that public education must accompany
enforcement for it to remain sustainable. Said Mr Fong, "In our fight to keep
contraband cigarettes off the streets, we fully recognise the need to reach out to the
public. We will be stepping up our community engagement and publicity efforts. A
series of community road shows to engage the heartlanders, youths and foreign
workers have been planned. We want the public to stay away from contraband
cigarettes, and better still, to smoke less or stop altogether.”
SDPC Cigarette Marking Regulation

SDPC-marking on Every Stick of

Cigarette
With effect from 1 January 2009, all duty-paid cigarettes sold
in Singapore will be legally required to be marked with the
letters “SDPC” (which stands for Singapore Duty-Paid
Cigarettes).

All cigarettes will continue to be sold in packets bearing the graphic health warning
lables as stipulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The SDPC will be marked on every individual stick of cigarettes.

How Does a SDPC-marked Cigarette Look Like?

What Does the New Regulation Mean?

From 1 January 2009, all cigarettes without the SDPC-marking in Singapore will be
deemed illegal. Therefore, anyone caught selling, buying, or having in possession
cigarettes without the SDPC marking will be committing an offence under the
Customs and GST Acts.

Why is there a Need for this New Regulation?

The new marking regulation seeks to achieve the following objectives:
To reinforce Singapore Customs’ intensified operations to keep contraband cigarettes
off the streets,

As a measure to visibly differentiate duty-paid cigarettes from contraband cigarettes

to enhance detection by our enforcement officers, and

As deterrence to curb the peddling and buying of contraband cigarettes in Singapore

What are the Penalties?

Anyone caught selling, buying, or having in possession of duty unpaid cigarettes

without the SDPC marking will be committing an offence under the Customs and
GST Acts. For every packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, buyers will be fined $500.
Illegal peddlers will be arrested and charged in Court.Offenders will be fined or sent
to jail or both.

Frequently-asked Questions

Please click here for a list of frequently-asked questions on the new SDPC cigarette
marking regulation.

Media Release

You can read the media release for details on the new SDPC cigarette marking
regulation.