Selangor orders local councils to seize all vape product ads

Summary

• The Selangor government is in the final stage of deciding whether to ban the sale of vape products.

• State executive councillor for public health Jamaliah Jamaluddin says all local councils have been ordered to seize any advertisement that promotes e-cigarette products pending the final decision.

• She says the state government is concerned with the harm caused by vape products to teenagers.

The Selangor government has ordered its local councils to seize all billboards and any other form of advertisement that promotes vape products.

State executive councillor (Public Health and Environment) Jamaliah Jamaluddin said this measure is being taken pending a final decision on whether to ban the sale of vape products in Selangor.

In a statement, she said the administration is committed to protecting the public’s health, especially the younger generation, from dangers posed by e-cigarettes.

According to Jamaliah (above), there has been a sharp increase in vape consumption among teenagers, with a national survey in 2022 revealing that close to 14.9 percent of male teenagers aged between 13 and 17 in the country were using vape products.

“These statistics are very worrying and demand a proactive action at the state level. Thus, the state government, through its Public Health Committee, will hold a further meeting soon to deliberate on policy options before presenting our findings to the state executive council for a decision.

“Pending the final decision, the committee has decided that all local governments in Selangor to take immediate action by seizing any form of advertisement that promotes vape products, either physically or digitally.

“This action is in line with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act, which clearly prohibits any form of advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship related to e-cigarette products,” the Bandar Utama state assemblyperson said.

She added that the state also urged parents, educational institutions, and civil society to play active roles to ensure effective action to address the issue.

Selangor’s move came on the heels of strict actions taken by several states to either ban or limit vape products.

Last week, the Perlis government announced its decision to ban vape shops in the state beginning Aug 1, citing syariah principles and a decision by the state Fatwa Committee.

Prior to this, the Kedah state administration said it is implementing a control mechanism for the sale of e-cigarettes before deciding whether to impose a ban on the products.

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