Tobacco Control Bill: Health minister vows to expedite its tabling

In line with the government’s move to implement a tax on vaping devices and products, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has vowed to expedite the tabling of the Tobacco Control Bill in Parliament.

However, she said the bill will most likely be tabled in the next Parliament session only.

“The government is working towards the vape tax, but we are working towards speeding up the tabling of the Tobacco Control Bill.

“Not in this session but as soon as possible, and if it is not possible, then next session, we will try,” Zaliha (above) said during a press conference after today’s Agenda Nasional Sihat Malaysia (ANSM) Cabinet Committee meeting.

The minister, however, sidestepped questions on whether the Tobacco Control Bill will be passed before nicotine is removed from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act 1952.

Earlier today, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai urged the government to get the Tobacco Control Bill passed first before the removal, so there will be control over the sale of vape products.

He claimed that once nicotine is removed from the Poisons Act, vape containing the substance can then be sold to the public legally, and with no control to prohibit the sale of these items to minors.

He added that this would give children unhindered access to vape products containing nicotine - which will lead to a whole new generation of children and young people becoming addicted.

The Control of Tobacco Product Regulations (CTPR) only covers nicotine within cigarettes and has controls in place to ensure cigarettes can only be sold to those above 18 years of age.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) said that excluding nicotine from the Poisons Act 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.

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. - Mkini