Vape Group Hails Poisons Board’s Endorsement Of Proposed Nicotine Exemption
Mevta welcomes the Poisons Board's endorsement of exempting liquid nicotine from the Poisons List, urging regulation under Act 852.Summary
The Malaysia E-Vaporizer and Alternative Tobacco Association (Mevta) has welcomed the Poisons Board's endorsement of the government's proposal to exempt liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Mevta president Mohamad Neezam Talib said the endorsement was a step towards a more appropriate and updated regulatory framework, given that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) is already in place. He argued that nicotine-related products should be regulated under this newer, more comprehensive legislation rather than the Poisons Act 1952. Mevta called for prioritising enforcement of existing regulations over a blanket ban on vape products, questioning the effectiveness of prohibition when unapproved products remain widely available. The association urged stricter enforcement against online sellers and operators without legitimate business premises, noting that products without MOH approval are still sold through platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. It also argued that youth smoking should not be attributed solely to vaping, as smoking among school students was already a concern before vape products entered the market. Mevta said uncertainty surrounding the regulatory framework has affected businesses, with industry players hoping to avoid further drastic policy changes.
(Source：CodeBlue)
