KUALA LUMPUR: The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which includes control on vape products, will come into force on Oct 1.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the law which was gazetted in February that aimed to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials and tobacco substitutes including vape and any electronic smoking devices to minors, among others will take effect in less than a week's time.
In a post on the Health Ministry's social media page, he said the Act 852 covers regulations on smoking and tobacco products registration, sale, packaging, labelling, and smoking ban at public places.
"These rules and provisions that will be enforced include electronic cigarettes,"he said.
Earlier it was reported that the yet-to-be-implemented law was initially supposed to be enforced beginning June but was later postponed to August.
Dr Dzulkefly had said that the gazetting of Act 852 on Feb 2 was part of efforts to curb tobacco use and reduce the harms associated with smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes.
"He highlighted that the 2023 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for Malaysia indicated a significant increase in e-cigarette or vape usage, particularly among adults under the age of 50.
"This rise is alarming and necessitates decisive action," he was reported to have said."
The Health ministry had also faced criticism for its failure to enforce Act 852, which has hindered the implementation of regulations prohibiting the sale of vape and e-cigarette to children.
With the long anticipated enforcement regulations coming into place, the growing concern over smoking, e-cigarettes, unregulated use of vape and its impact on public health, particularly among youth and minors should be addressed soon.