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SINGAPORE – The National Environment Agency (NEA) received approximately 600 cases of feedback regarding second-hand tobacco smoke from neighbouring homes in 2025, of which around 30 per cent came from individuals who had previously raised the same concerns.

When NEA receives such feedback, it works with other government agencies or the relevant town council to issue advisories to surrounding residential units to encourage smokers to be considerate towards their neighbours, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on May 6.

“NEA does not track whether cases are amicably resolved. However, most feedback cases did not recur after advisories were issued,” he added.

“If the issue remains unresolved, the relevant agency or town council may engage residents in person. Affected residents are also encouraged to resolve the matter through mediation, such as by approaching the Community Mediation Centre.”

MPs had again called for stronger action on secondhand smoke, including classifying secondhand smoke coming from windows and balconies of home as public nuisance.

The latter is, however, challenging. Dr Janil questioned the extent to which the government should “intrude into the privacy of one’s own home and the behaviours that one can engage with there”.

He said this is an issue because the authorities have progressively prohibited smoking. Smoking is not allowed at more than 49,000 public places, including most common areas of residential buildings, such as common corridors and void decks, to reduce the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke.

“It’s precisely because we’ve prohibited it in so many of these areas that now we’re having to deal with the issues of what so...