KUALA LUMPUR: The top three regulations Malaysian vapers want are that vape products are not sold to minors, can be sold on all premises with necessary controls, and sold online with appropriate controls in place.
According to an opinion poll carried out by Adrian Lo, a Malaysian vape business owner, a majority or 87.9 per cent of vape users support the introduction of vape regulations that are different from conventional cigarettes.
"As a consumer and a business owner, I am extremely concerned with the move by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to label tobacco and vape as the same products and to regulate both products in the same way.
"Regulations for vape products must be different from conventional tobacco as both products are not the same," he said in a statement.
Recently, Adrian Lo ran an opinion poll among his followers on his social media pages on various topics related to vape regulations.
The poll has garnered more than 1,633 respondents in a short span of two weeks.
"Various international reports have found vape to be less harmful and a viable alternative to quit smoking, while multiple studies have confirmed that tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year.
"It is, therefore, wrong to regulate both products the same way," Adrian said.
The opinion poll also saw 85.5 per cent of users polled support the government's move to regulate the vape industry.
"Vapers in Malaysia welcome the move by the government to regulate the vape industry. It is important to have regulations, especially to regulate the safety and quality standards for vape products," Adrian said.
As part of the survey, vape users are also asked about the kind of regulations that they hope will be introduced for the industry.
On nicotine levels in vape liquids, the majority of respondents (87.4 per cent) agreed that there must be a limit to nicotine in vape liquids and that nicotine levels in vape liquids between 50mg-60mg received the highest support from vapers at 69.3 per cent.
Vapers also pointed out that if nicotine levels in vape liquids are capped at a lower level, 40 per cent said they would go back to using traditional cigarettes, while 27.3 per cent said they would turn to unregulated products.
17.5 per cent will add nicotine into their vape liquids, and 15.1 per cent will quit using vape products.
Adrian said all the findings from the survey are consistent with his experience from being in the industry.
"For example, we know that on average, vape consumers purchase vape liquids with
50mg-60mg nicotine.
The survey showed that respondents are in agreement with this level of nicotine, and if regulations do not take into consideration the need for vapers, then most of them will revert to smoking or turn to unregulated products.
"This is a clear indication that regulations must mirror the needs of consumers, or otherwise any efforts to legalise the industry will be futile," he said.
Concerning MoH's proposal to ban access to vape products for anyone born after 2005, Adrian said the move would not be effective.
"Banning access to vape products will not mean that these products will no longer be available to those born after 2005.
"It will simply mean that this group of users will be forced to buy from dubious sources and, in the worst case, obtain unregulated vape products that do not adhere to any safety standards.
"This can be even more dangerous, as users will be consuming products with unknown substances. Not to mention that enforcement will also be very challenging.
"Plus, it is also challenging to comprehend the intent of such a ruling, as anyone above the age of 18 can vote and drive a vehicle but cannot have access to products deemed less harmful than cigarettes.
"If MoH's goal is to create a smoke-free nation, then the right move is for vape products to be regulated and positioned as alternatives that can help smokers quit," he said.