KUALA LUMPUR: The generational endgame law to ban the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to those born in 2007 and the years after was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday. (July 27)
The Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill 2022 was tabled by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin for its first reading, and he said the Bill is expected to be debated and passed during the current Dewan Rakyat meeting.
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Under the proposed Bill, children born in 2007 and subsequent years will be prohibited from smoking, buying or possessing any type of smoking products, including electronic cigarettes or vape products even after reaching the age of 18.
Apart from this, shopkeepers and cigarette vendors are also not allowed to sell smoking products to those covered by the ban.
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The ministry had initially proposed the ban to cover those born before Jan 1, 2005 but increased the age limit to Jan 1, 2007.
The last minute changes come amidst uncertainty that some MPs would support the Bill.
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On Monday (July 25), Khairy tweeted that the changes were made to allow for "community education, a robust implementation plan and ramped up enforcement" before the law comes into force in 2025.
The current Dewan Rakyat meeting ends on Aug 4.
