KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has comprehensive regulations on smoking and tobacco control and does not need to follow other countries in banning vape and its products, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Asked if the country should emulate the Maldives by banning vaping, the Health Minister said we should instead focus on the implementation and enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
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"We don’t need to take examples from any country," he told a press conference after launching the JomQuit portal's chat bot "Cik Era Chatbot" here on Tuesday (Oct 15).
"During the early stages of drafting this legislation, we took benchmarks and best practices from all over the world.
"(Now) we have a standalone law that will regulate smoking products, enforce orders, and apply the necessary regulations.
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"You don't have to keep looking at others for guidance because we already have (a law that is sufficiently) comprehensive to address issues related to smoking control," he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Maldives became the latest country to ban electronic cigarettes after its President Mohamed Muizzu instructed the relevant authorities to prohibit the import of vaping devices, accessories and parts from Nov 15.
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From Dec 15, the ban will also apply to the possession, use, manufacture, sale, promotion and distribution of vaping devices throughout that country.
Serious public health concerns about ecigarettes persist on a global level over fears of nicotine addiction and increased cancer risk.
