Malaysian E-cigarette Industry Concerned over New Regulations
On April 10th, Malaysian media outlet The Edge Markets reported that the Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) expressed concerns over upcoming legislation relating to the regulation of the e-cigarette industry. The MVCC stated that they were not familiar with the upcoming laws and regulations, and urged the Ministry of Health (MOH) to engage in discussions with industry stakeholders on the matter.
Industry association has no knowledge about the content of the legislation.
Ridhwan Rosli | Photo source: The Edge Markets
Ridhwan Rosli, the Secretary-General of the Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC), stated that they have no knowledge of the upcoming legislation and regulations, and emphasized the importance of the government obtaining their input.
He stated:
The government is hoping to remove e-cigarette liquid containing nicotine from the Poisons Act and introduce a consumer tax on the product, which we support. However, there is little information available about the details of the bill, which has surprised industry experts.
Redzuan recounted that the last discussion took place in 2022 with former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
The content of the bill will be discussed with the industry.
He believes that it is crucial for industry participants to join the discussion before making any suggestions on the bill.
He cited the Philippines as an example of proper regulation for e-cigarettes and praised the "thorough" process of introducing regulations, which involved multiple meetings with all stakeholders.
In a statement, Redman said, "We have not yet discussed this issue with the Health Department.
The Malaysian Tobacco Control Council has accused Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa of abusing her ministerial power to overturn the Poison Board's decision to vote against removing nicotine from the Poison Act.
According to reports, the Malaysian Ministry of Health announced that nicotine (in liquid and gel form) used in electronic cigarettes has been cleared from poison control regulations.
This amendment to the legislation clears the way for the sale of electronic cigarettes and nicotine patches. Without this exemption, products containing nicotine could only be obtained through a prescription from a physician or pharmacy.
Related Reading:
The Malaysia Tobacco Control Committee has called on the government to tackle the problem of nicotine addiction.
The Malaysian electronic cigarette regulation bill will be presented to parliament in May.
Malaysia's electronic cigarette regulations may boost Vuse's market share.
Malaysia imposes a consumption tax of RM0.4 per milliliter on e-cigarette liquid, and manufacturers are required to register before April 30th.
References:
The vaping industry lacks crucial information about an impending law.
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