KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — A total of 190 smoking products and electronic cigarette/vape producers have registered their products with the Health Ministry (MOH), the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the number includes 30 cigarette, four cigar, one cigarillo, eight tobacco and 147 vape companies that have registered in line with the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) which came into effect October 1.
“During the registration process, complete details of smoking products including material content and emissions produced must be submitted.
“This is in line with Articles 9 and 10 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation, which emphasises the importance of the control of smoking products and any product that fails to meet the specifications set under the act and related regulations will not be granted approval for sale,” he said at the special chamber session of the Dewan Rakyat sitting.
He was replying to a proposal by Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on measures to control the vape industry.
Dzulkefly said Act 852 bans the sale of vape products packaged to look like toys or food, which could be attractive to children and teenagers.
“All smoking products must be packaged in boxes that display new pictorial health warnings as well as the link jomquit.moh.gov.my to encourage smokers to quit smoking,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said as of yesterday, the MOH had carried out 3,191 enforcement operations across the country, with 56,517 premises visited.
“As of November 3, we have implemented education enforcement 72,024 times. We do not issue compounds during this operation, but provide education in terms of health literacy,” he said.
— Bernama