Malaysia's Health Minister: Plans to ban the sale of e-cigarettes by mid-2026, starting with open-cell products

Key Points:

·Ban period and target: Malaysian Health Minister Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad stated on September 25 that the country plans to implement a nationwide ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes by mid-2026. If not achieved by then, they aim to have it in place by the second half of 2026, pending approval from the Cabinet. 

·Implementation method: The ban will be implemented in stages, starting with open system e-cigarettes and gradually covering all types of e-cigarettes. 

·Progress update: The Health Ministry is currently drafting a memorandum for the Cabinet regarding the ban, with plans to submit it before the end of 2024. They have also supported six state governments, including Johor, in not issuing or renewing e-cigarette sales permits. 

·Historical background and neighboring countries' actions: Malaysia had plans to ban e-cigarettes in 2015 but did not follow through, missing the opportunity to implement comprehensive restrictions in sync with Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei. Singapore has already enhanced e-cigarette inspections and increased penalties on September 1, categorizing the detection of nicotine in e-cigarettes as a Class C drug.

Malaysia's Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has announced plans to implement a nationwide ban on the sale and use of e-cigarette products by the middle of 2026, according to a report by Channel News Asia on September 25, 2025.

The issue is no longer 'whether to ban e-cigarettes', but 'when to ban them'," Dzulkefly Ahmad stated.

Dzulkefly Ahmad has stated that the Ministry of Health is currently drafting a cabinet memorandum proposing the ban of e-cigarettes to ensure a comprehensive implementation plan. He added that the ban will be phased in, starting with open system vapes and gradually expanding to include all types of e-cigarette products.

Dzulkefly Ahmad also called on all parties to remain patient and stated that the timeline and implementation mechanism of the e-cigarette ban will be announced in due course. After receiving the initial proposal from the expert committee at the Ministry of Health, the relevant memorandum will be submitted to the cabinet by the end of the year.

Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the final implementation of the ban needs to await Cabinet approval, but the Ministry of Health will continue to push for the ban to be in place by mid-2026. He said, "I hope to implement it around mid-2026. Even if we can't, we definitely aim to have e-cigarette ban in place by the second half of 2026.

The Health Minister had previously stated that the Ministry of Health supports the decision of the state governments of Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Kedah, and Pahang to not issue or renew e-cigarette sales licenses through local authorities.

He said that despite plans by the former minister as early as 2015 to ban e-cigarettes, Malaysia had failed to implement comprehensive restriction measures in a timely manner, like Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei.

Singapore, a neighboring country, has ramped up enforcement efforts on e-cigarettes by increasing inspections at its air, land, and sea ports as well as in various locations across the country.

Starting from September 1st, Singapore has increased penalties for the illegal use of e-cigarettes, and the anesthetic etomidate detected in e-cigarettes has been classified as a Class C controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.