Malaysia’s health minister stressed that the new law will continue to be optimized as new evidence develops, rather than a blanket ban on regulatory authorities defending vapes.
The Malaysian government has defended its decision to regulate vapes instead of a total ban under the Public Health Tobacco Controlled Products Act 2024.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said after launching the report “Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases in Malaysia: the Inevitability of Investment” in the Parliament Ballroom,
- “It would be easier if we banned it completely, but we missed that opportunity.”
- “The legislation is comprehensive and covers everything from registration to the end of the supply chain.”
The Public Health Tobacco Controlled Products Act 2024, which came into effect on October 1, seeks to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials, and alternatives, including vapes and other electronic smoking devices, to minors.
The minister ensured that as new evidence emerged, the law would continue to evolve to address anxieties about the potential health risks of vapes.
- “If new evidence comes to light, we will revisit the issue. The law is dynamic, not static.”
In an earlier sitting of the Lower House of Parliament, Zukferi pointed out that the government had to spend more than $30,000 to treat lung injury patients due to the use of vapes or related products. Without control measures, treatment costs will increase to $82.24 million annually by 2030.
