JOHOR BARU: The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act will provide more authority to the Johor Health Department to act against vape sellers in the state, which has banned these products since 2016.
State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the Act would help curb the sale of smoking products including vape and ecigarettes to the public, especially minors.
“For the past eight years, the local councils have not allowed or issued business licences to those selling vape-related products including its liquid and devices. The sale of any vape products is not allowed in Johor.”
“However, it is a grey area as we found that some traders applied for a business licence under the pretext of selling other goods but were instead selling vape products,” he said when contacted.
On Friday, the Health Ministry (MOH) said in a statement that the Act, which covers regulations on registration, sale, packaging, labelling and prohibition of smoking in public places, came into effect on Oct 1.
There would be a six-month grace period for industries to adapt to the new law.
The MOH said that “educational enforcement” would be carried out concerning the registration and display of smoking products until March 31 next year.
However, the grace period regarding packaging and labelling will go on till Sept 30 next year.
“The one-year grace period, applied on a product-by-product basis, is crucial to give industries and shop owners adequate time to deplete their existing stock and transition to new packaging and labelling requirements,” it said.
He said that the Johor government welcomed the Act as it would help the authorities, especially the state Health Department, to curb the sale of these products.
“The Act will provide more bite to enforcement personnel in taking action on those selling vape related products in Johor.
“For now, as part of the grace period given by the Health Ministry, the department is carrying out educational enforcement to those that have been found selling vape related products,” he added.
