IPOH: The Health Ministry has been working with other Government ministries to ensure that children are not using e-cigarettes or vaping, said Dr Lee Boon Chye.
The Deputy Health Minister said that the Education Ministry has been alerted and that all teachers are told to confiscate any vape products found in schools.
Vape products can be very sophisticated, including those that are made in the form of a pen or a watch. Parents and teachers must be vigilant, because a child could claim that it is just a watch when it is in fact a vape product, " said Dr Lee.
He added that industry players are taking voluntary steps, such as by removing the vape designed to look like a watch from the market.
“So when the manufactures say that the product is out of stock, it is not due to high demand. The product has been removed from shelves voluntarily, ” said Dr Lee.
On a separate topic, Dr Lee said that he hoped that the tastes of Malaysians would change in favour of reduced-sugar drinks as this could benefit their health in the long run.
He said that industry players had told him at a recent dialogue that these drinks did not go down well with consumers
“With more publicity and more emphasis on health, I am confident that consumers will change their tastes, " said Dr Lee at an event organized by the Shou Hup Senior Citizen Goodwill Association Ipoh on Saturday (Aug 3).
He added that drink manufacturers would be able to save millions in their production costs and expenses by reducing the sugar content of their products.
Dr Lee had been asked to comment on the reactions of consumers and manufacturers to the sugar tax on beverages that was implemented on July 1.
Under the tax, an excise duty of 40 sen per litre is imposed on beverages with a sugar content exceeding 5g per 100ml.
The same excise duty is imposed on fruit and vegetable juices with more than 12g of sugar per 100ml.
Asked about the effectiveness of the sugar tax, Dr Lee said that this would only be visible after a year or two.
"However ff we don’t handle the matter now it will be a problem later with more people living unhealthily and probably suffering from diabetes and obesity, ” he said. - Star
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