KUALA LUMPUR – The Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024 (Act 852) will come into force next month, the Health Ministry said.
Previously in May, the Health Ministry announced that the government would enforce the legislation beginning June to address the rampant use of electronic cigarettes.
“The law covers regulations on the registration, sale, packaging labelling and the prohibition of smoking in public places.
“The rules and orders that will be enforced include electronic cigarettes,” the Health Ministry said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Yesterday, Health Ministry Disease Control chief assistant director-general, Dr Muaz Sayuti was reported saying that the legislation will protect children from the dangers of electronic cigarettes.
Registration of electronic cigarette products under the act, he said, would allow authorities to monitor their content.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad was previously reported to have said that the ministry was still waiting for the Attorney-General’s Chambers to approve the regulations and orders under Act 852.
The act was gazetted on February 2 but has not been enforced.
The government received calls to immediately enforce the act after former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa removed liquid nicotine from the poisons list in March last year, with NGOs highlighting the dangers of children having access to it.
The act seeks to prohibit the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials, and tobacco substitutes to minors, as well as the provision of any smoking-related services to those under 18. – September 25, 2024