Impose a license requirement in tobacco product sale - Expert

The sale of tobacco products including shisha and cigarettes should be licensed, according to a tobacco control expert.

Dr Zarihah Md Zain from the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, said the government must amend the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 to make provision for the licence.

In this way, the sale of shisha and cigarettes to the public could be restricted particularly in regard to Muslims following the National Fatwa Council's decree to ban the two products, she told Bernama here today.

She said the government must impose stringent conditions in the licence application in line with the decree issued by the council, to render more effectively efforts to curb the sale or possession of tobacco products.

Dr Zarihah who is also adviser for the Malaysian Women Action for Tobacco Control and Health lauded the council's decision to ban shisha but doubted whether it could be fully enforced.

"It has been 18 years (1995) since cigarettes were banned by the council but until today many Muslims are still smoking," she said.

Dr Zarihah said neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Thailand had already imposed the requirement for a licence on tobacco sellers.