Dzul: Display ban won’t cost sundry shops that much

PUTRAJAYA: The display ban just means businesses only need to ensure their tobacco product displays are not visible, especially to children, which may not incur significant refurbishment costs, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Refuting claims by sundry shop owners that refurbishments to abide by a display ban on all tobacco and vape products would cost nearly RM300mil, the Health Minister said they only had to make sure the products were not visible to children.

“You already have the compartment to display the items; just provide a screen on the compartment to ensure the product is not visible,” he said.

Dzulkefly said it would not cost each retailer up to RM6,000 for the change, adding that it would cost a few hundred ringgit at the most.

“And that is spent across six months. We are also giving them six months of educational enforcement. It probably won’t dent their top-line or bottom-line,” he added.

This comes after the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia said it could cost nearly RM300mil to implement a display ban on all tobacco and vape products in retail outlets.

They said substantial upfront costs were needed to reconfigure their product shelves in stores, adding that sundry shops are already facing a difficult situation in the current economic climate.

“Estimates indicate that each retailer could incur up to RM6,000 in costs to comply with the display ban, putting an enormous financial strain on small, family-run businesses.

“This could amount to nearly RM300mil in implementation costs nationwide by April 1, 2025,” association president Hong Chee Meng said in a statement on Monday.

While the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) went into effect on Oct 1, the Health Ministry announced that some measures under the legislation were to be enforced in phases.

The display ban on products will be implemented by April 1, 2025, with educational enforcement being carried out until then.

Beginning Oct 1, 2025, enforcement will be carried out on the packaging and labelling of tobacco and vape products.