Now the vape group says it will support the Health Department’s Generational Tobacco Ban Act

The Malaysia E-Vaporisers & Tobacco Alternative Association (Mevta) today lent its support to the Ministry of Health’s bill to ban the sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes and vaporizers to Malaysians born after 2005. — Stock Photo by Yusof Mat Isa

By Yiswaree Palansamy

Friday, July 22, 2022 8:15 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 – The Malaysia E-Vaporisers & Tobacco Alternative Association (Mevta) today lent its support to the Ministry of Health’s bill to ban the sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes and vaporizers to Malaysians born after 2005.

After previously urging the government to reconsider, he said he would now work with the department to regulate the industry under the bill dubbed a Generational Endgame (GEG).

“After receiving a clear explanation from YB Khairy Jamaluddin and the FCTC department of the Malaysian Ministry of Health, the association has agreed to support the proposed generational endgame in the Tobacco and Products Control Bill to smoke 2022 which will be presented by YB Khairy Jamaluddin in Parliament.

“The association has also agreed to work with him on the issue of regulating the Malaysian vaping industry. Finally, after our industry has had no regulation for a long time, this bill, if approved, will regulate the vaping industry in Malaysia.

“Therefore, we sincerely hope that all MPs will put aside their political ideological differences and come together to support this bill in the Dewan Rakyat later,” the group said in a statement today.

FCTC refers to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.

Yesterday, Mevta and the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) jointly urged the government to reconsider the bill, warning that the move could devastate an industry worth RM2.27 billion.

Mevta Chairman Mohamad Neezam Talib said that while cigarettes and vapes were different and should not be equated, the two were lumped together in the bill.

The two groups had said the government should instead develop a regulatory framework for the vaping industry, which has been repeatedly delayed, that would classify them differently from tobacco products.

Last week, New Strait Times (NST) reported that Health Minister Khairy said the bill was approved by Cabinet on July 13.

He reportedly said the bill would be tabled at the current parliamentary meeting.

The proposed bill essentially prevents people born on January 1, 2005 and beyond from buying tobacco and tobacco-related products, even when they reach 18 or the current legal drinking age. .

Maria J. Book