Regulations to control sale of vape to teenagers being drafted - Hilmi

A new law to regulate the use of tobacco products which is being drafted by the Health Ministry will take into account the suitable control on the use of vape and the act of vaping which is harmful to human health, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya told the Dewan Rakyat today.

The government will regulate laws governing smoking e-cigarettes or vape, just like laws and regulations set for smoking cigarettes.

Hilmi said the existing laws, namely the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations (Amendment) 2011 under the Food Act 1983 was seen as not very effective, especially in terms of fines imposed on offenders, to control the use of vape and other tobacco products, including cigarettes.

READ: Govt plans to introduce legislation to regulate vaping

"Since (vaping) is a new trend, laws governing 'smoking' need to be strengthened. To control the sale of vape to teenagers below 18, we will add vape to the definition of cigarettes in the Food Control Act 1983.

Once the regulation is enforced, only those above 18 can buy or smoke vape," he said when answering a question from Datuk Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam).

The new regulations will also ban 'vape' at 21 locations identified and designated as non-smoking areas.

Earlier all 20 public universities in the country had agreed to ban vape at their respective campus.

READ: Vape banned in all public universities

Recent reports had claimed that high nicotine contents used in vape, especially flavoured, was harmful if the vapour is inhaled by children.

An electronic cigarette (e-cig or e-cigarette), personal vaporizer (PV) or electronic nicotine delivery system is a battery-powered vaporizer that simulates the feeling of smoking, but without the tobacco combustion.

READ: Malaysia should carry out own study on effects of vaping - National Poison Centre