Put nicotine back on Poisons List, CAP urges govt

GEORGE TOWN: With no end to youths picking up the smoking habit each day, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the government to seriously consider reinstating nicotine on the Poisons List under the Poisons Act 1952.

Claiming that vape products are still easily accessible, CAP senior education officer NV Subbarow said it was disappointing to note the lack of regulation and enforcement against children's access to vape products despite the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 coming into effect in November.

"We urge the government to strictly regulate the promotion and sale of vape gadgets and liquids immediately as new generations of young smokers and vapers are being created (despite the law coming into effect)," he said in a statement on Friday (Feb 23).

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"We are disappointed that the government and policymakers did not see that this was going to happen and surrendered the opportunity to protect children by not adopting the Generational End Game (GEG) in its entirety.

"Now with no monitoring and weak implementation of the law, vape liquids can easily be purchased from stores or online.

"If schoolchildren can have access to vape devices, it shows that the Bill is grossly ineffective and the problem has gotten out of hand.

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"We find vape products even more easily accessible.

"There are more retail outlets selling a wide range of vape liquids in attractive packaging that appeal to all age groups," Subbarow said.

Subbarow added that the root problem was the exemption of nicotine as a controlled substance under the Poisons Act in March last year.

"(This makes) nicotine-based vape liquids... just like ordinary consumer products that can easily be purchased without a prescription.

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"This mistake can and must be corrected.

"We urge the government to seriously consider reinstating nicotine into the Poisons Act," he said.

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He said the government should not subscribe to the misinformation pushed by the tobacco and vape industries and their supporters to sway decisions on tobacco control measures.

Instead, Subbarow said the government should depend on evidence and facts showing that vaping is the cause of severe damage to blood vessels, permanent lung scarring, brain fog and headaches, and poses a higher risk of respiratory disease.

On another note, Subbarow urged the government to maintain the existing designated smoking zones in force from 2019.

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"Smokers have to be at least 3m from air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned restaurants, coffee shops, open-air hawker centres, and street stalls where smoking is banned.

"This is because smoke does not respect physical boundaries and the public has the right not to inhale second-hand smoke or vape aerosol.

"The right to clean air is a basic consumer right.

"It is this right that the government is required to implement through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which states the government must provide 100% smoke-free public and workplaces," he said.