If Malaysia’s proposed vape regulations come into effect, open-system vapes will be banned, which will be detrimental to local manufacturers who are mostly e-liquid producers.
The vape regulations proposed by Malaysia’s ministry of health (MoH) which will treat vape products in the same manner as conventional cigarettes are facing concerns from consumers to manufacturers, importers, and retailers.
The proposed regulations include low nicotine limits for vape liquids, a ban on online sales of vape, a ban on the sale of 'open system', as well as a ban on the advertising and promotion of vape, similar to cigarettes.
In a New Strait Times report, vape consumer association Malaysia Vapers Alliance (MVA) called for the ministry to separate vape and cigarettes, with MVA president Khairil Azizi Khairuddin stressing much of the rest of the world recognize and cigarettes as two different products.
"There is considerable evidence from international public health bodies showing vaping to be less harmful than cigarettes. It is wrong to have regulations for the vape to mirror cigarettes,” he said. “Many other countries that have regulated vape, including the UK and New Zealand, treat vape as a tool that can aid with smoking cessation. This proposal is sending the wrong message, and as adult consumers, we firmly believe that adult consumers cannot be deprived of their right to less harmful alternatives.
"Sale of vape products are taking place nationwide in Malaysia," said Khairuddin. "Therefore, the government must immediately put in place regulations or product guidelines to govern the industry so that consumers are buying products that comply with the laws. The MoH cannot continue to think of only finding ways to ban vape and delay regulations while ignoring the real issue at hand."
Associations representing some 3,000 vape entrepreneurs, manufacturers, importers, and retailers in Malaysia also issued a joint statement voicing their concern.
“The industry has repeatedly asked the government to introduce regulations since 2015 but this has yet to happen,” said Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) president Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas. "In budget 2022, the government announced high excise duties for vape products that will make them way more expansive than cigarettes. The latest proposal to regulate vape like cigarettes is unreasonable. There is a lot of evidence showing vaping is less harmful than cigarettes so the rules for vape and cigarettes cannot be the same.”
“MoH is insistent and refuses to look at the science and facts in drawing up the rules for vape,” added Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy (MVIA) president Rizani Zakaria. "MoH should treat vape products as an alternative for smokers and not impose drastic regulations for vape or regulate them similarly to cigarettes.”
Dewan Perniagaan Vape Malaysia (DPVM) secretary-general Ridhwan Rosli said the ministry’s proposed “Generation Endgame” regulations based on New Zealand’s age ban on tobacco sales need to be discussed further, pointing out that in New Zealand regulates vape products differently than cigarettes and promotes them as an alternative to help smokers quit.