KUALA LUMPUR – Vape industry players have claimed that they are in the dark over the details on upcoming laws to regulate the industry and have no knowledge on the plans the Health Ministry has in store for the products.
Malaysian Vape Chambers of Commerce secretary-general Ridhwan Rosli said the ministry has not engaged with the stakeholders on the new laws that will be introduced to regulate the vape industry.
“The last discussion that was held with the Health Ministry was in the middle of last year with the ex-health minister.
“Since then, we have not had any discussion on the proposed laws with the new health minister nor any officials from the ministry,” he said in a statement today.
He also said that it is important for stakeholders to be involved in the discussion on making laws to regulate industry to ensure they are consistent with international practice.
“The Health Ministry needs to hold discussions with industry before making a final recommendation or tabling any law. This is to ensure the laws are consistent with global developments and take learnings from other countries that are regulating the products.”
Ridhwan said recently the Philippines has introduced vape product regulations and the authorities there have held numerous meetings with industry players in determining the right regulations that led to attracting multimillion-dollar investments into the country.
“If we take the Philippines for example, they went through a thorough process to introduce regulations for their vape industry which was a culmination of numerous meetings and public consultations with the industry and all parties. That led to clarity and attracted multinationals expanding and investing in the country.”
At the same time, it was reported that multinationals in the sector expressed interest in investing and expanding in the Philippines given the developments then.
“The vape sector is a growing sector globally and multinationals would be looking at Malaysia if we get this right. Currently, the industry is already valued at over RM2 billion and with the right policies in place.
“There could potentially be investments brought into Malaysia which would spur the electrical and engineering sector and other downstream industries, create job opportunities, and help the Malaysian economy to grow,” said Ridhwan.
Previously, the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control joined the outcry against Putrajaya’s decision to de-list liquid or gel nicotine used in vapes and e-cigarettes as controlled substances.
It said that despite the apparent haste in removing the substances to allow for taxation, relevant government agencies were “little prepared” to collect the said tax.
The new tax on e-cigarettes and vape with nicotine was imposed at 40 sen per ml starting April 1, while nicotine in gels and liquids used in these products have been removed from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act 1952.
Previously, health care groups had slammed the move to de-list nicotine used in gels and liquids as being “exceptionally regressive” and a shock to those in the public health sector, especially tobacco-control advocates.
Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy president Rizani Zakaria said vape sector figures have yet to meet with ministry representatives, leading to the industry lacking clear details on the permitted nicotine levels, prohibited substances in vape liquids and gels, as well as product specifications permitted for sales and marketing.
The Malaysian Society for Harm Reduction had also called on the government to amend existing laws regulating vape products as it will take some time for the new legislation to come into force. – The Vibes, April 10, 2023
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