Calls on govt to ban vape products, bring back GEG plan

Summary

• Concerned organisations and activists call on Putrajaya to impose a nationwide ban on sale and use of vape products.

• They raise worries over growing number of teenagers getting addicted to vape products.

• Putrajaya is also urged to bring back the generational endgame plan.

A group of civil society organisations and concerned individuals today renewed calls for Putrajaya to impose a total nationwide ban on e-cigarette and vape products.

In a statement, they urged the federal government to bring back its plan to introduce the generational endgame (GEG) law on tobacco and vape.

The group cited the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022, which showed 14.9 percent of school students aged between 13 and 17 were vape users.

“This would mean that of the approximately 2.7 million children (2022 data) aged 13-17 years, about 400,000 are vaping.

“Today, that number would easily have exceeded 500,000 and is growing rapidly. In addition, the 2023 NHMS and 2023 Global Adult Tobacco Survey showed that five to 5.8 percent of adults were users of electronic cigarettes,” the statement said.

The group stated that access and promotion of vape products to young children and teenagers is widespread, often found just outside school premises, and many primary school students are interested in vaping.

“Most youth think it is ‘cool’ to vape and probably harmless, as the government has chosen not to ban vaping. We wonder if any of us can fathom the crisis that is brewing,” the group said.

Among those who signed the statement are senior consultant paediatrician Dr Amar Singh HSS, the Chow Kit Foundation, Liga Rakyat Demokratik, child rights activists Siti Rahayu Baharin and Hartini Zainudin, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, and the Association of Women Lawyers.

Substantial income

The group believed that Putrajaya was reluctant to ban vape products in Malaysia due to the substantial income it generates for the government.

On top of this, they claimed the government was also probably concerned with potential backlash from entrepreneurs and vape consumers if they were to take such strong action.

The group noted increasing medical data that vaping products have adverse impacts on various organ systems.

“These include nicotine addiction, inflammatory lung conditions, cardiovascular effects (arterial stiffness and endothelial damage), immune system damage and long-term carcinogen risk. Not to mention that many contain illicit drugs.

“There are those who argue that vaping is a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and that we need to support those who have made this switch. For these individuals, we can offer prescription-based support as they work to reduce their nicotine dependence.

“We appeal to the government to be prudent for the future of our children. Please institute a nationwide ban on vapes and e-cigarettes. Better still, bring back the GEG to achieve a smoke-free generation,” they said.

Emulate strong position

The group further called on Putrajaya to emulate the strong position against vaping that several states have taken unilaterally, including some having imposed total prohibitions against the product.

However, they said, this might not work as intended due to online sales.

The federal government had previously planned to introduce GEG, aimed at making it illegal for those born after 2007 to buy or consume nicotine products.

However, the plan went up in smoke after the Health Ministry, then under the helm of Dr Zaliha Mustafa, dropped GEG provisions from the revised Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill, which was tabled in November 2023.

Last month, current Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said state governments have the authority to ban sales of e-cigarette and vape products through their local councils.

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