The local vape industry players should be able to give their views on the proposed Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill.
Four vape groups, represented by the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association president Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas are to submit a memorandum to a special officer in the Prime Minister’s office to urge the government to consider the future of Malaysia’s vape industry. This is in response to a Ministry of Health’s (MoH) imminent proposal.
The Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA), Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC), Malay Vape Traders Association (PPVM) and the Malaysian E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternative Association (MEVTA) represent over 3,000 entrepreneurs and businesses, and currently hire 15,000 employees from the manufacturing, distribution and retail sectors in the domestic vape industry.
The memorandum included views and concerns on the proposed policy, which had not been previously considered by the MOH. “As an association that represents the voice of local vape industry manufacturers, we believe our views are critical when developing regulations for this industry, as it involves the future of local players,” said the MRECA president.
The Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill
Last April, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Health, Science and Innovation, was infact urged to allow the local vape industry players to give their views on the proposed Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill, said the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA).
Ab Manas had said that more detailed discussions on the imminent regulations for vaping products are required. “To date, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has had minimal discussions with the local industry. Our main concern is that the Ministry intends to introduce regulations to regulate vape similarly to tobacco products.”
He had added that local authorities should differentiate between tobacco products and safer nicotine alternatives. “The government needs to see that tobacco and vape products are different. There is clear evidence from around the world that vape products are significantly less harmful than tobacco products. This is a fact that the government needs to consider, and the laws cannot be the same for vape products and tobacco products.”
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