Since the implementation of Malaysia's Public Health Tobacco Control Act 2024, the vape industry has faced strict regulation.
Rizani, chairman of the Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy Organization, revealed that the Ministry of Health emphasized that it will implement restrictions on the content of e-cigarette oil as soon as possible (the capacity of closed product oil will be reduced to 2 ml in two years, and relevant documents have not yet been issued), and requires stores selling tobacco and e-cigarette products to post "E-cigarettes or tobacco are sold here" signs in prominent locations, and prohibit the public display of related products.
Regarding the latest progress of Malaysia's tobacco control regulations, Rizani bin Zakaria, chairman of the Vape Industry Advocacy Organization (MVIA), revealed that the Ministry of Health recently held a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meeting for e-cigarette industry participants to brief on Bill No. 852.
It is understood that the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a legally binding treaty aimed at improving public health by addressing the tobacco epidemic, and Malaysia is one of the member states. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Health of Malaysia to discuss Act 852 and its related regulations for e-cigarette/e-shisha shop operators.
Rezani revealed that the meeting mainly discussed the following topics:
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Fancy designs of vape products, such as large-puff disposable vapes and designs that attract children, are not allowed.
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Bottles of e-liquid are only allowed to have a capacity of 15 ml. The e-liquid content of vape products is limited to 2 ml to 3 ml.
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The registration cost for each flavor is up to 5,000 ringgit (about US$1,200).
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Vape shops or any shops that sell tobacco products and vapes can no longer display products publicly. All products must be closed to the public and only display stickers that say "E-cigarettes or tobacco are sold here."
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Vapes cannot be sold in food trucks, street markets or similar open places.
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New restricted areas are set up for smoking and vaping, with 28 areas and places listed as non-smoking areas. People who smoke or vape in the areas may be fined up to US$5,000.
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All vapes involving e-liquids must be registered with the Ministry of Health and tested by a certified laboratory for safety approval.
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All costs, times and deadlines will be announced after the meeting.
SP2S noted that among the products that Rezani mentioned as being banned due to their fancy designs, there is the "cartridge-style" E-cigs that are extremely popular in the Malaysian market. This product looks like a cassette tape.
When mentioning the "cassette-style" E-cigs product, Rezani also said that although the "cassette-style" E-cigs are popular, they are now banned.
Regarding the new tobacco control regulations formulated by the Malaysian Ministry of Health, Rezani said:
"Vape industry practitioners are very happy about the government's approval of legal operations. However, there are still some factors that make it difficult for the vape industry to comply with the relevant regulations. For example, the registration cost of each flavor is as high as 5,000 ringgit (about 1,200 US dollars), in addition to laboratory testing costs and taxes."
"For the industry, it is really expensive to follow these regulations. We hope that the government can provide some space for all vape brands or store owners to start compliant operations at the lowest cost."
"We ask for very little, but they (the Ministry of Health) may not change."
CH