Reducing Number of Foreign Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles Entering Singapore
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong’s inquiry on plans to reduce foreign internal combustion engine vehicles entering Singapore, including commercial and worker transport. Minister for Transport S Iswaran stated that the government stipulates emission standards for foreign vehicles similar to local ones to protect air quality. He highlighted regulations such as new emission limits for foreign motorcycles starting April 2023 and smoke opacity limits for commercial vehicles. Non-compliant motorists face composition fines or entry denial at checkpoints if they possess outstanding fines for vehicular emission offences. Furthermore, Singapore collaborates with Malaysia through bilateral platforms to encourage cleaner energy vehicles and resolve cross-border emission issues.
Transcript
43 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport what are the Ministry’s plans to gradually reduce the number of foreign internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles entering Singapore over the next few years, including goods and commercial ICE vehicles, as well as those used by foreign workers when travelling to Singapore for work.
Mr S Iswaran: To safeguard Singapore’s air quality, the Government stipulates emission standards for foreign vehicles entering Singapore, similar to the practice for local vehicles. For instance, foreign motorcycles and passenger vehicles are not to emit any smoke or visible vapour. From 6 April 2023, foreign motorcycles will be required to meet the same minimum in-use limits on carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions as local motorcycles. Foreign commercial vehicles are not to emit smoke with opacity exceeding 40 Hartridge Smoke Units. Motorists found to be non-compliant with the above regulations will be issued with composition fines.
They may also be turned back at the checkpoints if they accumulate outstanding composition fines for various offences, including non-compliance with vehicular emission standards.
The Government will continue to work with neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia, to encourage the adoption of cleaner energy vehicles and to address cross border vehicular emission issues. We are already doing this through various bilateral platforms, such as the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia and sectoral mechanisms on environmental protection.