Pharmacists, doctors oppose excluding liquid nicotine from Poisons Act

 

It is feared that excluding liquid or gel nicotine from the Poisons Act could lead to an increase in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping.

PETALING JAYA: Pharmacists and doctors are opposing any move to exclude liquid or gel nicotine under the Poisons Act 1952.

The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) said it would send the “wrong message to the public”, while the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) expressed concern the exemption would see children becoming addicted to the substance.

Nicotine, whether in liquid or gel form, is a highly addictive substance that poses significant health risks, MPS president Amrahi Buang said, adding studies had shown that nicotine use could lead to cardiovascular and lung disease, as well as cancer.

Ads by Kiosked

“Excluding it from the Poisons Act 1952 would send the wrong message to the public, particularly young people, and could lead to an increase in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping,” he said in a statement.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Amrahi said MPS was made to understand that the Poisons Board would be meeting to discuss the exemption on the control of nicotine under the Act.

He also said the Poisons Act was established to protect the public from the dangers of hazardous substances, including nicotine, and to regulate their sale, supply and use.

“MPS believes that the proposed exclusion of nicotine gel or liquid from poison control regulations under the Act would undermine efforts to protect public health and safety.”

Meanwhile, MMA said they were also informed of the possibility of nicotine being removed from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act.

Its president, Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, expressed concern that once removed, vape containing nicotine could be sold in the public domain legally and with no control to prohibit the sale of these items to minors.

Ads by Kiosked

“Removing nicotine from the Poisons Act before passing the Tobacco Control Bill will give children unhindered access to vape products containing nicotine – which will lead to a whole new generation of children and young people becoming addicted.”

Muruga said according to Budget 2023, vape with nicotine was due to be taxed, adding it was a “de-facto legalisation of nicotine allowing it to be sold in the public domain”.

In order for vape-containing nicotine to be sold, nicotine would have to be removed from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act, he said.

“Current actions denote the government is more concerned with the potential tax revenue and has little to no worry about the impact of this on the health of all Malaysians.” - Mkini