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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 11, 2015.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday urged the health ministry to reconsider a proposal to allow the sale of e-cigarettes only by licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners.

“With only one meeting, the health ministry has made the decision to allow vape to be sold only at pharmacies. This move will definitely kill the vape businesses that are mostly owned by young Malays,” he said.

“I hope the ministry will sit down with vape traders to discuss the best resolution for a win-win situation, and at the same time, quickly announce a clear set of guidelines to the community,” said Ismail Sabri, who supports the use of e-cigarettes and last month announced the Cabinet’s decision not to ban vaping.

Putrajaya is still grappling with the fledgling, but lucrative industry as vaping catches on with those trying to quit smoking and others keen on trying a new trend.

Last month, the Malaysian E-Vaporisers and Tobacco Alternative Association (Mevta) said it had between 4,000 and 5,000 members.

The government’s handling of the issue, however, has been conflicting. Previously, it was considering a move to ban vaping, citing health concerns, but this had caused uproar among proponents.

The Cabinet later decided not to ban it but the health ministry has moved to raid vape stores to seize oils that contain nicotine.

Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday said that vape with nicotine content could only be sold by licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners, as the unauthorised sale of nicotine was an offence under the Poison Act 1952. — The Malaysian Insider

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