Smoking in Malaysia
In Malaysia, cigarettes are legally sold, smoked, and imported, but it is illegal to buy them from vending machines or online. Also, health warnings on packaging are mandatory, but there are no legal restrictions on smoking in public places. The total tobacco taxation rate is 0.52. Smoking remains prevalent with around 4.9 million current smokers recorded in 2024, which corresponds to 17.9% of adults current smoking prevalence overall, 0.5% among females and 33.6% among males. In 2021, smoking-related deaths was approximately 24,100, which represented 10.75% of all deaths, 15.03% recorded among males and 4.44% among females.
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August 28, 2024 by youtube.com
Saving Lives in Malaysia and Uzbekistan: A Report by Global Health Experts
The webinar discusses the topics of the Tobacco Harm Reduction and enhanced treatment that could save nearly 880,000 lives in Malaysia and Uzbekistan by 2060 featuring guest speakers Dr. Derek Yach, Prof. Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, and Dr. Delon Human.
July 18, 2024 by thestar.com.my
Regulate vapes, protect youth
Calls for stricter vape laws in Malaysia have increased after vending machines were found selling vape products easily accessible by youth. Concerns about addiction among teenagers have prompted demands for online vape sales to be banned. Suggestions include registering vape retailers, regular inspections, and public awareness campaigns on the dangers of smoking and vaping. The proposed Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 aims to regulate vape products. The Malaysian Organization of Vape Entity emphasizes the need for clear regulations to prevent minors from vaping. The Health Ministry is reviewing regulations to ban electronic cigarettes and vape product sales, including through vending machines.
June 20, 2024 by freemalaysiatoday.com
Vape retailers fear heavy blow from display ban, plain packaging
Vape retailers have expressed concern over the government’s yet-to-be-implemented move to ban vape displays and introduce “standard” packaging for the products, saying it will deal a heavy blow to their business. The measure would follow the gazettement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2023 in February, which requires that both tobacco and vape products be sold in plain or standardised packaging.
April 02, 2024 by thesun.my
Regulate vaping to protect children
Universiti Sains Malaysia's National Poison Centre reported a 30.6% increase in nicotine poisoning cases, with teenagers most affected due to vaping. Despite concerns, the Health Minister delisted liquid nicotine without regulation. The unregulated market in Malaysia offers high-nicotine vape products, appealing to young consumers. Vape and e-cigarette companies aggressively market to all, including non-smoking teenagers, leading to addiction and health issues. The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act aims to regulate vaping, but its passing is delayed.
March 18, 2024 by freemalaysiatoday.com
KJ’s vape specialty store idea will disadvantage rural consumers, says NGO
The Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) has shot down former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s suggestion for the government to restrict sales of vape and e-cigarettes to specialty stores. Its Malaysian associate, Tarmizi Anuwar, said this would put those in rural or semi-urban areas at a disadvantage when it comes to accessibility. “Introducing a licensing system exclusively for vape shops could inadvertently push consumers towards unregulated channels, undermining public health objectives,” he said in a statement.
March 14, 2024 by thesun.my
Increasing trend of vaping among women - Lukanisman
The Ministry of Health (KKM) found an increasing trend in vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes, including among women, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said this was the outcome of a comprehensive study being carried out by the ministry, with the study also providing prevalence data on vaping. He said the prevalence data showed there has been an increase in the prevalence of vaping, and among women. “For the 2017 data, the prevalence was 2.8 (per cent) and in 2022, the prevalence showed an increase of 6.2 per cent,“ he said during the question and answer session.
March 12, 2024 by galencentre.org
Health Minister Seeks Cabinet Approval For Proposed Anti-Smoking Regulations
Health Minister Dr. Dzul is seeking Cabinet approval for regulations under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024. The Act, already gazetted, will be enforced alongside the regulations. The Ministry of Health has prepared drafts currently under legal review. Stakeholder engagement sessions have been conducted to discuss various aspects, including proposed restrictions on vape and e-cigarettes. Previous suggestions include plain packaging for tobacco products and restricting vape sales. Former ministers have emphasized the importance of regulating ingredients and nicotine content.
February 27, 2024 by theedgemalaysia.com
Malaysia’s incidence of illicit cigarettes last year was lowest since 2020
The incidence of illicit cigarettes in Malaysia decreased to 55.6% in 2023, the lowest since 2020. Strict enforcement actions by authorities led to this decline, but illicit market share remains high, causing an annual tax loss of RM5 billion. JTI Malaysia suggests predictable taxation to deter consumers from illegal cigarettes. Fake tax stamps incidence tripled since 2016, reaching 8.7% of the market in 2023. While legal cigarette industry volume stagnated, there was a shift to vaping products, making Malaysia the 12th largest e-vape market. However, vaping products lack regulation, allowing unsafe marketing and ingredients.
February 26, 2024 by thesun.my
Call to reinstate nicotine in Poisons Act
Consumers Association of Penang calls for the reinstatement of nicotine under the Poisons Act due to the increasing vaping trend among Malaysian youth. CAP criticizes the ineffectiveness of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 and highlights the easy accessibility of vape products to school children. They attribute the rise in underage vaping to loopholes in the law and stress the harmful effects of nicotine. Additionally, CAP advocates for the enforcement of smoking zones and adherence to international standards for smoke-free environments to protect non-smokers' health.
December 14, 2023 by freemalaysiatoday.com
30% of e-cigarette smokers in Malaysia aged 12 to 15, says group
About 30% of the e-cigarette smokers in Malaysia are aged between 12 and 15 years, according to a regional anti-tobacco organisation. The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) said the e-cigarette use prevalence among this age group in Malaysia is higher than teen smoking prevalence, which is 12.5% (10.8% boys and 1.7% girls). In contrast, the alliance said, the other countries in Asean, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand, have banned these products along with about 40 other countries globally.