PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has questioned the federal government over the delay in gazetting rules for digital cigarettes and vape merchandise, underneath the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
In an announcement, MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz mentioned the delay has led to vital public well being dangers and allowed the vaping business to “exploit” regulatory gaps.
“We have been knowledgeable that the draft rules have been already accomplished because the finish of final yr however there was no information about it since.
“The authorities should clarify the explanations for this delay,” she mentioned.
She mentioned it was troubling to listen to that 111 circumstances of publicity to questionable vape liquid have been reported to the National Poison Centre between 2015 and final yr.
“This was other than the reported circumstances of e-cigarette and vape-associated lung damage (Evali). It was additionally reported that numerous these circumstances concerned minors,” she mentioned, referring to statistics revealed in the Dewan Rakyat final week.
Azizan mentioned key considerations over the delay embody the troubling development the place cell vape kiosks are being arrange round universities and colleges.
“The aggressive advertising of vaping as fashionable and fascinating is deeply regarding as it will probably foster long-term dependancy, notably amongst impressionable youths,” she added.
She additionally mentioned that early nicotine dependancy not solely poses extreme well being dangers but additionally necessitates intensive behavioral administration.
“If left unaddressed, the present publicity to vaping amongst youths will complicate the administration of non-communicable ailments (NCDs) in the long run, burdening the healthcare system, decreasing productiveness, and imposing socio-economic strains on households and the nation.”
On June 8, well being minister Dzulkefly Ahmad mentioned that using e-cigarettes can be strictly regulated underneath the brand new smoking management regulation to be enforced this month.
He mentioned the rules on supervision can be applied first when the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 comes into power, making smoking merchandise, together with vape, closely regulated.
However, upon checking the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) federal laws web site at present, eNM discovered that the laws shouldn’t be but in power.
