Malaysia has announced that it will introduce new regulations for the vape industry, marking the first time the country has moved to control the sale and use of e-cigarettes with nicotine. The lack of current regulations on vape or e-cigarettes with nicotine has raised concerns about their sale to minors under 18, locations for sale, ingredients, nicotine content, and volume of e-liquids, as well as labeling requirements, warnings, or bans on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
In response to this growing concern, the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) issued a statement in support of the proposed regulation. “This is a preliminary step to enable regulation to be introduced in the industry and we fully support the steps the Government is taking,” MRECA president Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas said in a statement.
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The government has already exempted nicotine-containing vape liquid from the Poisons Act and introduced a tax on the product. During a recent parliamentary session, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that a new bill would be tabled as soon as possible to regulate the vape industry.
While welcoming the government’s announcement, MRECA has called on the authorities to implement interim measures by amending the existing Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 (PPKHT 2004) while waiting for a new bill to be tabled in Parliament.
According to the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, 4.9 per cent of the Malaysian population currently vape, with young women making up more than 30 percent of those who vape. The estimated number of new vapers has overtaken the number of new smokers, raising concerns about the impact on public health.
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With no regulations in place, vape stores in Malaysia can legally sell e-cigarettes to children and teenagers, with nicotine content as high as 5 percent and disposables with as many as 10,000 puffs, in colorful devices and unrestricted marketing to impressionable minds.
In conclusion, the introduction of new vape regulations is a crucial step in ensuring public health and safety in Malaysia. The support of MRECA in the industry is vital to ensuring the smooth implementation of these regulations. It is important that the government takes interim measures to regulate the sale and use of e-cigarettes while awaiting the passage of the new bill.
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