KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd's (BAT's) eager plans to launch heat-not-burn products in Malaysia has been held back by the lack of approval from the government.

"We submitted our retail selling price [application for approval]  in December last year, but we haven't heard back from the authority yet," said BAT managing director Erik Stoel at a press conference after the group's annual general meeting today.

He added that the group is "fully ready" to begin retailing the products.

The Malaysian government has yet to table a proposed Tobacco Control Act, which would also regulate e-cigarettes, among others.

Meanwhile, BAT has also yet to launch its flagship heat-not-burn product, Glo, in East Asia, Stoel said.

Its competitor, Philip Morris International (PMI), launched its heat-not-burn product, IQOS, in Malaysia late last year.