Kuala Lumpur – The Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) welcomes the move from Government to regulate vape products and sees the potential exemption on nicotine for vape products from the Poisons Act as a positive move as it will make way for regulations to be introduced for the vape industry.
Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas, President of MRECA said, “We support the Government’s move to do this as it will enable regulations to be introduced onto vape products. Continuing to subject vape products containing nicotine under Poisons Act does not help as it is not a suitable framework and does not work for the products.”
“In developed countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada where vape products are regulated, e-liquids with nicotine are not subject to the Poisons Act. Instead, there is a proper regulatory framework to regulate the products. Therefore, the Government is taking the right steps to exempt nicotine for vape products from the Poisons Act.”
“With the exemption, vape liquids containing nicotine can be regulated appropriately and this is where amendments to existing laws such as the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 are required. This is important as it will then see controls in place instead of allowing the products to remain unregulated,” said Datuk Adzwan.
Datuk Adzwan also said that since Budget2023 announcement where the Government announced regulations will be introduced onto vape products, the industry players have not been engaged by the Ministry of Health for consultations.
“We have been in the dark since that announcement with no discussions nor consultation held with the Ministry. And the news about the potential exemption on nicotine for vape liquid should be discussed with industry players instead of it being communicated to the health NGOs. Therefore, we call on the Government to involve the industry in discussions on the regulatory framework for vape products.”
“At the same time, MRECA is of the opinion that the Generational Endgame (GEG) proposal requires further in-depth studies and consultations with all stakeholders especially the industry players. Its impact needs to be assessed further before any decision is being made,” concluded Datuk Adzwan.
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