PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry needs to tighten legal provisions to prevent manufacturers of vape and tobacco products from exploiting loopholes in their marketing strategies, says the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).
While commending the authorities for swiftly halting the operation of a vaping device vending machine at a Kuala Lumpur shopping centre, CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said any new legislation to regulate the sale and use of vape-related products should be comprehensive, closing all potential loopholes.
Pointing to the tobacco industry’s tactics in 2007, where flavoured products, colourful packaging and slimmer cigarettes were introduced to appeal to the youth and women, Mohideen noted similar strategies in the production of vape products, with some even featuring cartoon characters supposedly to attract children.
“We want the new law to cover all the loopholes in the previous Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004. The ministry must anticipate the innovative ways manufacturers may circumvent regulations, as seen in 2007.
“Such tactics lull people into believing that vaping is not dangerous when in reality it can cause serious lung injury,” he said.
Mohideen suggested involving agencies like the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to regulate online sales of vaping devices and accessories.
On Saturday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said specific regulations on the sale of ecigarettes or vape products, including through vending machines, are expected to be implemented soon.
He said the Attorney General’s Chambers is in the final stages of researching the regulations before they are approved.
It was reported that the management of the shopping centre involved had agreed to shut down the vending machine after meeting with the ministry.
Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) president Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas also welcomed the regulation of vape products, claiming it was the association that raised the alarm on the vending machine at the shopping centre after it went viral on social media.
“As MRECA president, I called the operator and advised him to cease operating the machine as it was illegal.
“MRECA objects to it as such vending machines can be accessed by children or minors seeking vape devices,” he said.
Adzwan also emphasised the association’s stance against online sales of vape products as it could be unregulated and minors may attempt to buy the items.
“We support regulating the sale of vape products as we do not want them to be used for the wrong reasons or land in the hands of children. If this happens, it will give the whole industry a bad image.
“We are all for it but hope the ministry will not be overly strict with the regulations,” he said.
Adzwan also hoped the ministry would engage industry players before implementing the new regulations as this would give retailers time to prepare themselves.
“If there are restrictions on the sale of any of the items, then a grace period of at least three years will be fair for the transition as retailers will need to clear their stock,” he said.
