After Malaysia’s Public Health Smoking Commodity Control Act 2024 came into force, although online searches for “Vapes” failed, related products could still be found through specific brands, and even some businesses’ “mushrooms” labels openly sold abnormal vapes.
Malaysian vape sales go underground
As reported by The Star on Feb 14, since Malaysia’s Public Health Smoking Commodity Control Act 2024 (Act 852) came into effect, e-cigarette brands are still sold online.
While a search for “Vapes” does not yield results, items can be found by searching for specific brands. Some businesses even sell mushrooms openly with a “mushrooms label,” claiming that the suspicious liquid can pass urine tests.
Online Sales Still Rampant, Brand Search Becomes Key
On social media platforms, various e-cigarette brands are sold openly in the e-commerce space, with each seller offering a variety of flavor options. They label such products with “Pods”, which are priced as low as RM10. This is in stark contrast to the absence of e-cigarette traces on the Internet when the bill was first implemented on October 1 last year.
Meanwhile, some merchants are promoting “mushroom juices” on social platforms and offering postal and self-service services. Such products are promoted only in closed groups. Small bottles of packaged droppers are priced from as low as RM60 in packages of 5ml and 10ml.
A seller said in a statement that the price was negotiable and the quality claimed to be the best. He also claims that it can be blended with other flavors and urine will show clearly. Another business promises to buy in bulk and enjoy a special price.
In January, the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) confirmed that “magic mushroom contains vape oil derived from cannabis and many people abuse such products through e-cigarettes.”
However, several vape shops in the Klang Valley have found that they all comply with the provisions of Act 852. Even with the grace period, merchants are guaranteed not to see the products from outside the store until April 1, 2025. In several convenience stores, e-cigarette brands are also once again locked up in containers behind the counter.
The first phase of Bill 852 will go into effect on October 1, 2024, and the second and third phases will go into effect on April 1 and October 1, 2025. The bill aims to cover the registration, sale, packaging, labeling, and related laws and regulations of products that prohibit smoking in public places.
