SEREMBAN: The Health Ministry (MOH) is calling for improved border controls and greater cooperation among enforcement agencies at entry points into the country to prevent the influx of electronic cigarettes or vape products.
Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the entry of these product could be controlled if the ministry had the cooperation of the Customs Department and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA).
“I would like to emphasise that the enforcement at entry points involving the Customs Department should be enhanced, especially on the entry of products with nicotine.
“The MDTCA could also help play a role in the influx of these vape and e-cigarette products, for example, by discussing with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on the standard control of the product in the country,” he said after attending the Health Ministry’s 30th national-level Quran Recitation Ceremony here today.
Dzulkefly said the ministry had taken a number of measures including setting up a Specialist Working Committee comprising pharmaceutical enforcement, the inspectorate sectors of MOH, MDTCA and the FCTC.
“The committee, chaired by my deputy, Dr Lee Boon Chye, met for the first time on July 16 and will meet for the second time tomorrow to detail the enforcement on vape material containing nicotine in the near future, as vape with nicotine is controlled under the Poison Act.
“The Disease Control Division is also setting up discussions with the Education Ministry on vaping among school students,” he said.
Dzulkefly said he hoped that cooperation could be established with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and with television stations to ensure that advertisements on vape products were eradicated.
Recently, the media reported that the use of vape among school students was becoming increasingly prevalent among both male and female students. - Bernama