According to a report by Focus Malaysia on September 19, a group of e-cigarette consumers in Malaysia have expressed concerns about some key provisions of the upcoming Public Health (Control of Smoking) Act 2024 (Act 852). Recently, the Malaysian Vape Association (MVA) conducted a survey to gather opinions on the legislation, receiving almost 500 responses.
The results of the investigation indicate that...
71.3% of respondents are against the ban on retail display. Among them, the inability to browse products before purchasing (39.7%) and difficulties during the purchasing process (38.3%) are the main reasons for dissatisfaction; if the ban on retail display takes effect, consumers may seek illegal alternatives (47.4%) or return to smoking (44.5%). Only 8.1% of respondents said they would completely quit using e-cigarettes under restrictions; the majority of e-cigarette users are former smokers or those transitioning from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes (74.4%), and 81.9% of users use e-liquid containing nicotine, with 96.5% using e-liquids with nicotine levels below 40 milligrams.
The President of the Malaysian Vape Association, Khairil Azizi Khairuddin, stated that the investigation results indicate that the ban on retail display is not a solution. Restricting consumers' ability to browse and choose legal products will only push them towards a black market with questionable quality and safety.
Kairil also stated that regulatory agencies should consider the impact of such restrictions on consumer behavior. E-cigarette users should have the right to make informed choices, and implementing a retail display ban would strip away this right.
Kairil calls on the Ministry of Health to reconsider the implementation of the ban on retail displays.
The Bill No. 852 should prioritize measures to encourage smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, rather than imposing strict requirements on e-cigarettes and treating them no differently than tobacco regulations. Otherwise, smokers will continue to smoke, or e-cigarette users will turn to the black market, weakening the potential impact of e-cigarettes in reducing smoking rates in Malaysia.
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