Health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa recently announced that a new bill on tobacco and vape control is set to be tabled in Parliament when it resumes in May. The proposed legislation will regulate all smoking products, including materials containing nicotine, in an effort to ensure comprehensive control over nicotine preparations or gels containing nicotine in e-cigarettes or vapes.
This announcement follows the controversy over the removal of vape liquids and gels from the poisons list, which cleared the way for over-the-counter sales. The government has also imposed an excise duty of 40 sen per millilitre on these products.
Zaliha faced criticism after she was accused of using her ministerial powers to overrule the Poisons Board, which had unanimously voted against exempting nicotine liquids and gels from the Poisons Act. In August last year, the previous government tabled a Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill which was referred to a select committee for review. However, the bill lapsed when Parliament was dissolved in October.
In this article, we will discuss the new bill and its potential impact on the vape industry and public health in Malaysia.
What is the new bill about?
The new bill, which is expected to be tabled in May, will regulate all smoking products, including smoking materials containing nicotine. It aims to ensure comprehensive control over nicotine preparations or gels containing nicotine in e-cigarettes or vapes. The bill will also cover the sale, import, distribution, and use of these products.
The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns over the health risks associated with vaping and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people in Malaysia. According to a recent survey, 1 in 5 teenagers in Malaysia has tried vaping, and the number of vape shops in the country has increased significantly in recent years.
The new bill is also aimed at addressing the controversy over the removal of vape liquids and gels from the poisons list, which many health experts believe will lead to an increase in vaping-related illnesses and deaths.
What is the government’s rationale behind the new bill?
The government’s decision to table the new bill is based on several factors, including the health risks associated with vaping and the need for comprehensive regulation of smoking products in Malaysia.
The government has also imposed an excise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used for e-cigarettes and vaping. The decision to tax these products is in line with the government’s efforts to reduce the number of smokers in the country and to raise revenue for public health initiatives.
In addition, the health ministry hopes to create more awareness about the dangers of smoking through its anti-smoking programmes in schools and institutions of higher education.
What are the potential impacts of the new bill?
The new bill, if passed, could have a significant impact on the vape industry and public health in Malaysia. It would provide comprehensive regulation of smoking products, including materials containing nicotine, and ensure that these products are not easily accessible to young people.
The bill could also lead to a reduction in the number of vaping-related illnesses and deaths in the country. According to a recent report, Malaysia has recorded several cases of severe lung injury and death associated with vaping.
However, the new bill could also have negative impacts on the vape industry and adult smokers who use these products as a harm reduction tool. Some experts argue that excessive regulation of vaping products could lead to a black market for these products, which could be more dangerous and less regulated than legal products.
Conclusion
The proposed bill on tobacco and vape control is an important step towards comprehensive regulation of smoking products in Malaysia. If passed, the bill could help reduce the number of young people who try vaping and the associated health risks. However, it is important to strike a balance between regulation and harm reduction, to ensure that adult smokers have access to safe and regulated vaping products.
FAQs:
- What is the poisons list, and why was it controversial to remove vape liquids and gels from it? The poisons list is a list of substances that are regulated and restricted in Malaysia. The removal of vape liquids and gels from this list was controversial because it cleared the way for over-the-counter sales of these products, which could lead to increased use among young people and a higher risk of vaping-related illnesses and deaths.
- What is the excise duty imposed on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used for e-cigarettes and vaping? The excise duty is a tax imposed on these products to reduce the number of smokers in the country and raise revenue for public health initiatives.
- What is the government’s rationale behind the new bill on tobacco and vape control? The government’s decision to table the new bill is based on several factors, including the health risks associated with vaping and the need for comprehensive regulation of smoking products in Malaysia.
- What are the potential impacts of the new bill on the vape industry and public health in Malaysia? The new bill, if passed, could have a significant impact on the vape industry and public health in Malaysia. It would provide comprehensive regulation of smoking products, including materials containing nicotine, and ensure that these products are not easily accessible to young people.
- What is the importance of striking a balance between regulation and harm reduction in vaping products? It is important to strike a balance between regulation and harm reduction in vaping products to ensure that adult smokers have access to safe and regulated vaping products. Excessive regulation of vaping products could lead to a black market for these products, which could be more dangerous and less regulated than legal products.