Jamaliah says enforcement of vape product registration will begin on April 1.
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has not issued any licence to vape traders to operate in the city, says Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
Premises found selling the electronic cigarette would be issued a compound, she said in reply to Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Taman Medan) who asked about the sale of vape in his constituency during the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam.
Dr Afif said some vape sellers were so bold that they even displayed large signboards outside their premises.
“We have vape shops next to clinics as well as in front of schools in Taman Medan,” he said.
Jamaliah said the state was cooperating with Health Ministry and the Selangor Health Department to monitor the use of electronic cigarettes, from a health perspective.
The initiative aligns with the enforcement of Smoking Product Control for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
The Act covers regulations on the registration, sale, packaging, labelling and prohibition of smoking in public places, which applies to electronic cigarettes too.
Jamaliah said enforcement on vape product registration and regulation on its sale at display counters will begin on April 1, while enforcement on product packaging and labelling will start on Oct 1.
“The local councils will also be involved in these enforcement operations,” she said.
In addition to these measures, Jamaliah said MBPJ would soon have a workshop to address the vape issue.
The state will work with Health Department to monitor contents of electronic cigarette, particularly nicotine among other chemicals that could be harmful to health.
Other measures included supervising the use of electronic cigarettes in public places, especially in schools, hospitals and food premises, as well as increasing public awareness of the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes.
“This awareness campaign will be carried out in collaboration with community leaders and health volunteers, such as Selangor State Community Health Volunteers.
“They will serve as information delivery agents for the state to the local population and will be responsible for conducting advocacy and awareness campaigns,” added Jamaliah.
