POISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Poisons Act controls the import and sale of poisons. Last year, the Inspectorate Section of my Ministry dealt with 29 cases of offences under the Act. Nineteen cases were successfully prosecuted in court and the offenders duly fined. Ten cases are still outstanding. However, the Act imposes a limit of $1,000 fine or six months' imprisonment for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. A parallel Act, the Medicines Act, provides control over medicines and contains a more realistic penalty for offences of similar gravity.

The Poisons (Amendment) Bill enhances penalties for offences under the Act and brings them in line with the provisions under the Medicines Act, that is, a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. We hope that this Amendment will deter unscrupulous and illegal trading of poisons. The Amendment Bill will also facilitate licensing and control of poison products.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Toh Chin Chye].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment: read a Third time and passed.