Last year, Parliament passed the Control of Smoking Products For Public Health Bill 2023 , leading to the implementation of a crucial law aimed at protecting our children and aiding adult smokers in quitting the habit. In the process, the government has stumbled upon some challenges in achieving the said goals, especially with regards to vaping.
Due to insufficient regulation and enforcement in the vape industry, there’s been a surge of illegal candy and fruit-flavoured vape products targeting our children especially from China.
These illicit products have inundated our communities, including through online shopping platforms, making it challenging for law enforcement and retailers to differentiate between legal and illegal products.
This impedes efforts to use vape products as a tool to help smokers kick the habit. The fact of the matter is that there’s mounting evidence from scientists and researchers that vape is an effective cessation tool.
Malaysia has the potential to be a global leader in helping smokers transition away from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives, but change must begin at the top. Our health authorities must regulate a functional marketplace that provides alternatives to adult smokers and step up enforcement.
A stringent yet clear approval process for these products is necessary. Without it, we risk a continued influx of illegal disposable vapes that ironically have become the most popular choice among teenagers.
Lee Chong Kiat
