PUTRAJAYA — The national prevalence of smoking can drop to less than 15% next year with enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
The current prevalence rate is 19%, he said, a decrease from 21.3% in 2019.
Despite this, he added, there had been a significant increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, Bernama reported him saying after a briefing on the new Act, here, today.
“The prevalence of smoking has dropped from 21.3% to 19%, but the transition from smoking to vaping saw an increase from 3.2% in 2016 to 4.9% in 2019, and now it is 5.8%,” he said.
Act 852 came into force on October 1, and the ministry is enforcing some of its provisions immediately, such as offences involving the sale of e-cigarettes targeting children, while others will be enforced “educationally” to raise awareness.
Dzulkefly said the new law lists two new areas as non-smoking areas, namely, launderettes and workplace buildings, effective January 1, 2025.
In total, there are 28 areas designated as non-smoking areas under the Act, compared to only 23 under the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2018 under the Food Act 1983.
Health Deputy Director-General (Public Health) Datuk Dr Norhayati Rusli, who also attended the briefing on the Act today, said 2,548 warning notices had been issued since the law came into force on October 1.
Three compounds were also issued for smoking at prohibited smoking areas, she added.
She said the Ministry of Health also inspected 2,930 premises and conducted 108 operations during routine enforcement of the smoking ban in eateries, restaurants and public places.
Act 852 is comprehensive and aims to control the use of electronic cigarettes which was previously unregulated, especially among young people, and to strengthen control over other tobacco products, she added. – October 4, 2024