Labels on electronic cigarette and vape (ECV) liquid bottles have been found to misreport the amount of nicotine they contain, according to research carried out by the Health Ministry.

"From the 81 ECV liquid samples analysed, there were some that had no labels but contained nicotine. There were also samples that were labelled saying they had zero nicotine but were found to contain nicotine.

"There were samples that had higher levels of nicotine that was on the label," the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply to Lenggong MP Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who had asked about the ministry’s research into ECV. 

However, some samples were also found to contain less nicotine than labelled, said the ministry.

These findings were the result of the ministry's the National E-Cigarette survey (NECS) and the Chemical Constituents in E-cigarettes Liquid Solutions and Aerosols in Malaysia surveys, both conducted in 2016.

Other substances found in the ECV liquid were propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), volatile organic compounds (VOC) as well as lead, nickel, chromium and cadmium. Traces of these heavy metals were also found in the ECV vapour analysed.

The research showed that there were more VOCs found in ECV vapour (275) than in ECV liquid (116).

Meanwhile, the ministry reported a downward trend in the confiscation of ECV liquid bottles that contained nicotine. In 2015, 4,348 units were confiscated while in 2016, only 230 were confiscated. In the first six months of this year, 93 units were confiscated.

The debate around ECV, more commonly known as "vape", began early last year when various states weighed in on how to regulate the substance.

The Johor sultan prohibited it, while Negeri Sembilan banned it for Muslims. Perlis disallowed the selling of ECV devices while Selangor and Kedah mulled banning it. The National Fatwa Council ruled that the use of such devices was illegal.

Last December, the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) announced that all vape devices needed to be certified by Sirim before they could be sold.

It was previously announced three ministries including the Health Ministry, KPDNKK and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) were tasked with coming up with methods to regulate the ECV industry, including amending the Tobacco Controls Act and tabling a new law to regulate the sale of ECV devices.