Kuala Lumpur — The Malaysian Ministry of Health is set to enforce the “2024 Public Health Smoking Products Control Act” (Act 852) by the end of this year, aiming to strengthen the regulation of e-cigarette products and impose stricter restrictions on sales to minors.
According to a report from Orientaldaily on August 1, Health Minister Datuk Seri Zulkifli stated that the new regulations would cover several areas, including registration, sales, packaging, and labeling of smoking products, as well as imposing smoking bans in public places.
“The act has been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and is currently in its final stages,” said the Minister. “Everything is prepared, although some final adjustments might be needed. We hope to fully implement the act by the end of this year.”
The Minister also emphasized that all related regulations would be enforced concurrently with Act 852, including provisions specifically targeting e-cigarette products.
“The upcoming rules and orders will also cover e-cigarettes and will impose stricter controls on the sale of these products to minors,” he added.
This new legislative push comes amid growing concerns about the rise in e-cigarette use among teenagers. The Ministry of Health has reported a significant increase of approximately 5% in e-cigarette usage among teenagers over the past five years.
In addition to the new regulations, the Ministry aims to address the public health challenges posed by e-cigarettes through comprehensive measures. These include public awareness campaigns and educational programs to inform the public about the risks associated with e-cigarette usage.
