The Malaysian government is set to phase out vape and e-cigarette sales completely, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed.
Instead of pulling the plug all at once, the ban will happen in stages, beginning with open-system vape devices before expanding to cover the entire category. For now, there’s no fixed timeline on when the full ban will take effect.
Ban of vape sales to be phased out
Dr Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry has already sat down with several key agencies, including Finance, Customs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Home Affairs (police), Investment, Trade and Industry, and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority to draft an implementation plan. This will be presented to the Cabinet for approval before the full ban is enforced.
He also highlighted that six states have already stopped issuing or renewing licences for vape sales through their local authorities:
- Pahang
- Johor
- Kelantan
- Terengganu
- Perlis
- Kedah
Image credit: New Straits Times
It’s also worth noting that Malaysia isn’t alone in this move. Countries like Thailand, Singapore, India, and Brazil have already banned the sale of e-cigarettes, citing health concerns and the rise of vaping among youths. Australia, meanwhile, has introduced some of the world’s strictest vaping rules, only allowing nicotine vapes via prescription.
“This is a proactive approach in line with our national public health agenda,” Dr Dzulkefly stressed.
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