CAP Urges Tighter Regulations on E-cigarette Marketing Strategies in Malaysia

According to a report by The Star on July 15, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has called on the Ministry of Health to tighten legal terms to prevent e-cigarette and tobacco product manufacturers from exploiting loopholes in marketing strategies.

While authorities quickly halted the operation of an e-cigarette vending machine at a shopping center in Kuala Lumpur, CAP President Mohideen Abdul Kader said that any new regulations governing the sale and use of e-cigarette products should be comprehensive, closing all potential loopholes.

Mohideen pointed out that the tobacco industry once introduced flavored products, colorful packaging, and slimmer cigarettes in 2007 to attract young people and women. Similar strategies are now being seen in e-cigarette products, with some even using cartoon characters to appeal to children.

We hope that the new law will address all the loopholes in the 2004 Tobacco Control Regulation. The Ministry of Health must anticipate innovative ways in which manufacturers may circumvent regulations, as seen in 2007.

Mohamed Moheiddin suggests involving agencies such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in regulating the online sale of e-cigarette devices and accessories.

Last Saturday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that specific regulations regarding the sale of e-cigarette products, including regulations on sales through vending machines, are expected to be implemented soon. He stated that the Attorney General's Office is in the final stages of studying these regulations, after which they will be approved.

Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas, chairman of the Malaysian Retail E-Cigarette Association (MRECA), also welcomed the regulation of e-cigarette products and claimed that the association alerted authorities to vending machines in shopping centers after noticing them on social media.

As the president of MRECA, I contacted the operator and recommended that they cease operating this illegal machine.

MRECA opposes these types of vending machines because they may allow children or minors to access e-cigarette devices.

Azwan also emphasized that the association opposes the online sale of e-cigarette products because it may be unregulated and minors may attempt to purchase these products.

We support the regulation of e-cigarette products because we do not want these products to be abused or fall into the hands of children. If this were to happen, it would bring a negative image to the entire industry.

We fully support, but hope that the Ministry of Health does not be too strict in regulations.

Azwan also hopes that the Ministry of Health can communicate with industry stakeholders before implementing the new regulations, so that retailers have time to prepare.

If there are restrictions on the sale of certain products, a transition period of at least three years is fair, as retailers need time to clear out their inventory.