JOHOR BARU: The Johor Health Department has seized 989 vape or electronic cigarette products worth RM34,158 disguised as toys and food during a special operation conducted on Wednesday and Thursday.
State health director Dr Mohtar Pungut said 11 notices were issued under Section 47 of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852).
"In Johor, the sale of vape products at business premises located within local authority (PBT) areas is prohibited under the Licensing, Business Trade, and Industrial By-Laws.
"The Health Department strongly advises premises owners and business operators to refrain from selling vape products in Johor, particularly those disguised as toys or food," he said in a statement, on Saturday (Dec 21).
Dr Mohtar added that the department would continue conducting such enforcement operations under the law.
"This operation aims to ensure compliance with the ban on the promotion, advertising, packaging and labelling of disposable pod-type smoking materials, designed to resemble toys and food," he said.
He said that to date, 6,097 premises have been inspected, with 1,021 offence notices issued for various violations.
"The Health Department takes the negative impact of the increasingly widespread smoking practices very seriously, particularly unethical promotions targeting children and teenagers," he added. – Bernama
