PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has remained firm in its view that electronic cigarettes containing nicotine should be banned.
Health deputy director-general (public health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said the ministry would not support any activity which could contribute to increased health problems.
He said the decision was reached based on a study conducted by the technical committee to review the effects of electronic cigarettes and shisha on health.
Dr Lokman Hakim said the Health Ministry defined electronic cigarettes containing nicotine as e-cigarettes and electronic cigarette without nicotine as vape.
"But most people cannot differentiate between e-cigarettes and vape. For them, vape and e-cigarettes are the same thing. In addition, there is also nicotine-contained liquid vape," he told a press conference here Wednesday.
Dr Lokman Hakim said only licensed pharmacists in licensed premises could sell products containing nicotine.
"The sale and use of e-cigarettes containing nicotine liquid are subject to the Poisons Act 1952 and Food Act 1983 under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004," he said.
Dr Lokman Hakim said the ministry would take action against sellers and users of e-cigarettes that contained nicotine under the Poisons Act 1952.
He said the ministry also would intensify the anti e-cigarette and vape campaign.
"The ministry's message to the community is do not use e-cigarettex or vaping as it is harmful to your health in the long term," he said.
Chairman of the technical committee to review the effects of electronic cigarettex and shisha on health, Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Razak Mutallif said that although there was no nicotine in vapes, the latest trend of vaping could create a new kind of addiction.
"The research we conducted found a lot of long-term effects that will produce new cancer in the future," said Dr Abdul Razak, who is also a senior medical consultant of Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Kuala Lumpur Hospital. – Bernama
