Malaysia's Health Minister argues that regulating vaping products, rather than banning them, is a more effective strategy for controlling the vaping and smoking ecosystem. He outlines the government's approach, emphasizing the importance of safety standards, preventing sales to minors, and reducing nicotine addiction.
Regulating vaping products rather than banning them outright will allow authorities to better control the vaping and smoking ecosystem, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He believes a ban, while seemingly attractive in theory, is practically impossible given that vape products have been available in the country for over a decade. A ban alone, without affecting its availability on the streets, would amount to empty legislation.
Dzulkefly argues that regulation allows the government to control the safety of vaping devices and the content of vaping liquids, ensuring they meet established standards. He points to countries like Thailand and Singapore, which have banned vaping, yet still see rising usage percentages. Dzulkefly emphasizes that with new regulations on smoking products, the government can monitor and prevent sales to minors. Clear mechanisms are being put in place to achieve this, alongside measures to prevent smuggling, which can lead to other illicit activities, including the use of drugs alongside or within vaping products. The first phase of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) came into effect on October 1st last year. It aims to regulate registration, sale, packaging, labeling, and prohibit smoking in public places. The Health Ministry will conduct educational enforcement for regulations concerning the registration and display of smoking products until March 31st, while the grace period for packaging and labeling ends on September 30th.Dzulkefly believes that merely banning a nicotine delivery method won't address the addiction of over five million Malaysians. Regulation allows the government to control the amount of nicotine in smoking devices and introduce economic measures that nudge behavior. Coupled with widespread efforts to prevent addiction and help people quit, funded in part by taxes imposed on legal products, the government aims to reduce the demand and dependence on nicotine. These are the primary reasons why Malaysia chose not to ban vaping. Dzulkefly highlights that existing regulations cover the content of e-liquid, including nicotine levels, and include exit plans to phase out disposable vapes entirely. He acknowledges that the unregulated vape market has existed since 2014, predating the law. With the new law and regulations in place, the government is working to eliminate non-compliant vapes, aligning with best practices of other countries facing similar challenges. The focus remains on public safety and protecting vulnerable populations, including children and teenagers, from the risks of vaping
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