The vape industry in Malaysia lacks regulation and abuse occurs frequently. The industry opposes a complete ban on sales and calls for the establishment of a regulatory framework. The annual output value of the industry reached 3.48 billion ringgit (800 million US dollars), involving the employment of more than 30,000 people. Multiple states have introduced sales bans, intensifying policy uncertainty.
Key points:
- The vape industry in Malaysia lacks a dedicated regulatory body, making it difficult to verify product quality and leading to frequent abuse.
- The vape industry organization has called on the government to establish a regulatory framework rather than impose a complete ban on sales to prevent the expansion of illegal markets and the intensification of public health risks.
- According to a 2023 study, the vape market size in Malaysia reached 3.48 billion ringgit (800 million US dollars), with the industrial chain covering over 7,500 stores and 31,500 jobs.
- Recently, several state governments have announced or advanced comprehensive sales ban policies, leading to an increase in industry uncertainty.
According to a report by NST on May 11th. The vape industry in Malaysia is currently under dual pressure from a regulatory vacuum and policy adjustments. According to Ridhwan Rosli, the secretary-general of the Malaysian vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC), pointed out in a recent media interview, currently, there is no institution in the country specifically regulating the ingredients and quality of vape products. This directly leads to some products being used for illegal purposes, such as doping drugs, endangering public safety.
Ridwan said that the lack of a review mechanism makes it impossible to confirm whether vape products on the market have legal sources or safety standards, further fueling the phenomenon of abuse. In response to the government’s plan to impose a ban on vapes and related products, he pointed out that rather than a complete ban, it would be better to establish a sound regulatory system to achieve more effective industrial management and consumer protection.
Samsul Kamal Ariffin, the chairman of the Malaysian vape Entity Organization (MOVE), also expressed concerns about the total ban on sales. He pointed out that without compliant alternative channels, the market is bound to be flooded with untested and uncertified products, and the country will also lose potential tax revenue sources from the industry.
According to the “2023 Malaysia vape Industry Research Report”, the annual size of the vape market in 2023 reached 3.48 billion ringgit (800 million US dollars), covering over 7,500 retail outlets and approximately 31,500 jobs. The study also pointed out that 31% of smokers in Malaysia have completely switched to vape products.
However, in the context of the lack of central regulatory guidance, local governments have taken the lead in action. As of now, Kelantan and Johor have completely banned the sale of vape products since 2016. The Terengganu state government announced on April 24 that it will ban all stores from selling vape products starting from August 1. In early May, Dato ‘Sri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, the Menteri Besar of Kedah, also publicly expressed his intention to follow the practice of Terengganu and planned to raise this issue at the recent state executive meeting.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dato ‘Sri Dzulkefly Ahmad also stated on May 4th, encouraging more state governments to stop issuing vape sales licenses and supporting the trend of local control.
