Singapore to Classify Etomidate as Class C Drug from September; Importers and Sellers Face Up to 20 Years in Prison

Key Points：

·Etomidate Classification: From September 1, etomidate will be classified as a Class C drug under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act.

·Health Risks: Etomidate-laced e-cigarettes, known as "zombie pods," pose serious health risks, including nausea, muscle spasms, and potential death.

·Enforcement Actions: Singapore has intensified enforcement efforts, seizing over 850 e-cigarettes and related products in recent operations.

·Legal Penalties: Users face mandatory rehabilitation and potential prosecution. Traffickers and distributors face up to 20 years in prison and caning.

·Tourism Impact: Local tour guides and travel agencies are informing tourists about the new regulations to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

According to reports from various media outlets, including Lianhe Zaobao and 8world, Singapore will classify the anesthetic etomidate as a Class C drug from Sept. 1. Traffickers and users may face prosecution and a minimum one-year jail term.

Etomidate, mixed into e-cigarettes, is widely circulated and highly addictive. Prime Minister Wong recently announced that the government will treat e-cigarettes as a drug issue, stepping up enforcement and education. E-cigarettes containing etomidate, also known as "zombie pods," pose serious health risks, including nausea, muscle spasms, and even death.

Once classified as a Class C drug, users will undergo mandatory supervision and rehabilitation. Repeat offenders may face prosecution and a minimum one-year jail term. Sellers, distributors, and importers may face up to 20 years in prison and caning. Currently, etomidate is regulated under the Poisons Act, with no mandatory rehabilitation or criminal liability for users.

Under Section 59 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, the home minister can amend the first, third, fourth, and fifth schedules via gazette, without parliamentary debate. Other Class C drugs include benzphetamine, mephentermine, and nimetazepam.

To prevent e-cigarettes from entering the country, Singapore's checkpoints have intensified enforcement. In five days, 184 cases involving e-cigarettes were detected, with over 850 e-cigarettes and accessories seized.

Local tour guide Chen Lizhen said that before tourists enter Singapore, she will communicate with the group leaders to remind them of Singapore's entry regulations, especially regarding e-cigarettes and smuggled cigarettes. Upon arrival in Singapore, she will also remind tourists again to ensure they understand the local laws.

Dallas Travel Agency pointed out that there is already a set procedure to notify foreign tourists in advance that they are not allowed to bring e-cigarettes into the country. The company then also clearly informed tourists that bringing e-cigarettes would face serious penalties.

Super Travel Group Vice President and Marketing Director Huang Haixiao said: "We don't think this will affect inbound tourism because everyone knows that Singapore is a disciplined country, and our previous bans on drugs and chewing gum have not affected Singapore's inbound tourism."

O & E Holidays Joint Reviewer Huang Yaoxiong believes that this regulation can help Singapore build a cleaner and safer tourist destination and attract more families to travel to Singapore.

Experts pointed out that some tourists may think that smoking e-cigarettes is not serious, but once they are informed that they will face serious penalties, their attitudes will also change.