No federal ban on vape products, states can decide - minister

The government will not ban the sale of vape products at the national level but will leave it to state governments to determine their respective policies, said Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said this includes state governments banning the sale of vape products through local authorities.

“I think the states have to make their own decisions. We can’t ban vaping at this point, so we take the stand to regulate.

“As the first step, of course we want to ban, but if we can’t ban, we need to regulate. The federal government maintains that regulation is the best approach for now,” he said.

Dzulkefly said the federal government’s regulatory approach to vaping will be via the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) which came into force on Oct 1.

He said the act provides a complete legal framework to regulate the entire vape supply chain, including registration, sale, and delivery.

“The ministry’s decision to regulate through Act 852 is a comprehensive legislative move. We take an attitude to regulate and not ban vaping altogether,” he said.

The minister said this when asked to comment on the decree of Pahang ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who suggested a total ban on the use of vaping in the state.

According to the sultan, the concern over the increase in drug abuse, especially among Pahang youth, is the basis for the recommendation.

Based on the statistics of the National Anti-Drug Agency, Sultan Abdullah said vaping is often a gateway to drug addiction.

It was previously reported that Johor implemented a ban on selling vape products.

Dzulkefly was speaking at a press conference after officiating the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 in Putrajaya today.

The Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, the World Health Organization, and various other strategic partners today launched WAAW 2024.

Themed “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.”, WAAW 2024 emphasises the importance of education, advocacy, and immediate action in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

It aims to raise the awareness of health professionals and the general public regarding the serious threat of AMR.

- Bernama

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