Skip to main content
Best News Website or Mobile Service
WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2022
Best News Website or Mobile Service
Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2022
Hamburger Menu

Advertisement

Advertisement

Singapore

Foreign ageing motorbikes to be barred entry, commercial diesel vehicles will face stricter emissions limit

The move to ban older foreign motorcycles on Singapore's roads will kick in on Jul 1, 2028, while the stricter emissions limit for turning back foreign commercial diesel vehicles will start earlier - on Apr 1, 2026.

Foreign ageing motorbikes to be barred entry, commercial diesel vehicles will face stricter emissions limit

Motorists coming from Malaysia's state of Johor form a queue as they approach the immigration checkpoint to enter Singapore on Mar 31, 2023. (Photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)

New: You can now listen to articles.

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: Older foreign motorcycles will soon be disallowed on Singapore's roads, while foreign commercial diesel vehicles must comply with a lower smoke emissions threshold as the authorities announce plans to tighten regulations to protect air quality.

From Jul 1, 2028, foreign-registered motorcycles registered in their home country before Jul 1, 2003, will be barred from entering Singapore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Monday (Jul 1). 

NEA had previously announced in 2018 a similar requirement banning old local motorcycles from Singapore's roads from July 2028, as these older motorcycles generally cause more pollution than motorcycles complying with the newer Euro emissions standards.

“This requirement will now be extended to foreign-registered motorcycles,” said NEA.

“Foreign motorcyclists entering Singapore are required to use motorcycles registered on or after Jul 1, 2003, that also comply with Singapore’s in-use emission standards.”

LOWER EMISSIONS THRESHOLD

The banning of older foreign motorcycles is part of measures announced on Monday to limit vehicular emissions as they contain pollutants that may affect respiratory health.

NEA also said that from Apr 1, 2026, the threshold for turning back foreign commercial diesel vehicles entering Singapore will be tightened to 50 HSU.

Hartridge Smoke Units (HSU) is a metric for smoke emissions from diesel vehicles.

Currently, if the smoke emissions of a local or foreign commercial diesel vehicle is tested and found to exceed 40 HSU, the motorist is issued a composition fine.

If a foreign commercial diesel vehicle is found with smoke emissions of 60 HSU or more, the vehicle will be turned back at Singapore’s land checkpoints and not be allowed to enter the country.

Said NEA: "The adjusted turnback threshold of 50 HSU is consistent with the emission standards under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit.

In the six months prior to rollout - Oct 1, 2025 to Mar 31, 2026 - NEA will issue advisories to such vehicles entering Singapore to remind them of the new threshold and implementation date.

“To safeguard our air quality, NEA takes a firm stance against non-compliance with Singapore’s stipulated emissions standards,” the agency said.

Under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, non-compliant motorists are liable on first conviction to a fine of up to S$2,000 (US$1,480).

Source: CNA/ec(gr)

Advertisement

Also worth reading

Advertisement