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.
