KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will present a timeline for a full ban on the use and sale of electronic cigarettes or vapes to the Cabinet, pending input from health experts.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry is currently awaiting recommendations from the health expert community before taking the next step.
“As for a timeline, I cannot provide an exact date. What I can confirm is that we will continue to review and evaluate the matter.
“Once the expert community provides its recommendation to the ministry and the minister, we will present it to the Cabinet for consideration,” he said at a press conference after Op Selamat Paru-Paru (Op Selamat PaPa) here today.
Dzulkefly said the ministry is currently in the educational enforcement phase of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which regulates vaping products and is scheduled for full enforcement on Oct 1.
He said the ministry now is moving towards a total ban on vape products based on scientific and medical evidence including real-life cases.
“I want to reiterate that the issue is not if a ban will happen, but when. It is only a matter of time.
“We want this to be executed thoroughly, not hastily, because there are significant legal implications, public health consequences and evidence that must be carefully scrutinised.
“We will proceed based on a detailed, evidence-based approach,” he said.
He said any decision regarding a full ban would also need to consider legal and policy impacts, and the ministry is committed to a measured approach that weighs all relevant factors.
Meanwhile, on Op Selamat PaPa, he said as of now, 281,381 premises have been inspected nationwide, and 459 investigation papers have been opened for various offences.
Of these, he said, 340 cases were opened under Section 7 for the offence of advertising smoking products.
“Another 68 investigation papers were opened under section 14 for selling smoking products not in accordance with the prescribed pricing and conditions.
“51 investigation papers were opened under section 15 for manufacturing, importing or distributing smoking products that do not comply with packaging and labelling requirements,” he said.
He said upon conviction, first-time corporate offenders face a fine of RM20,000 to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
For repeat offences, he said, the penalty increases to a fine of RM50,000 to RM300,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
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