Malaysia's Johor State Reaffirms Stance: Vape Ban Stays, No Sales Permits Issued

Nov.25.2024
Malaysia's Johor State Reaffirms Stance: Vape Ban Stays, No Sales Permits Issued
The Johor state government in Malaysia has decided to maintain its vape ban, in place since 2016, and will not issue permits for vape sales.

According to Berita Harian on November 24th, the Johor state government has decided to continue its ban on e-cigarettes, which has been in place since 2016. They will not issue any sales licenses for e-cigarettes.

 

Johor State Housing and Local Government Chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor stated that the decision has been in effect since 2016 and the 8-year ban includes strict restrictions on e-cigarettes and related products containing nicotine.

 

"Johor continues to enforce the ban on the sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes in the state," he said.

 

On January 1, 2016, at the request of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor, the use of e-cigarettes was banned throughout the state and commercial establishments were ordered to cease operations.

 

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated on November 19 that the federal government will continue to regulate e-cigarette products through the Tobacco Control Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into effect on October 1. 

 

He mentioned that although the federal government has not imposed a nationwide ban on the sale of e-cigarettes, it will be up to individual state governments to decide on policies, including potentially banning the sale of e-cigarettes through local authorities. (Read more: "Malaysia to Implement Gradual Approach to Vape Regulation, Says Health Minister")

 

Last week, Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang state in Malaysia proposed a total ban on the use of e-cigarettes. (Read more: "Penang Consumer Group Pushes for Vape Ban Amid Youth Addiction Concerns")

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Malaysia’s Vape Rules Face Review as Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad Addresses Dropped Nicotine Appeal
Malaysia’s Vape Rules Face Review as Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad Addresses Dropped Nicotine Appeal
According to Free Malaysia Today on August 26, 2026, Malaysia’s Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Health Ministry would explain the government’s decision to withdraw its appeal against a High Court ruling involving the exemption of liquid nicotine used in vape products from the Poisons List. The High Court previously ruled that the exemption decision was irrational. Dzulkefly said withdrawing the appeal did not mean the government would stop regulating vaping, and that future regulatory approaches would continue under existing legal frameworks.
Aug.28
Ireland’s Vape Tax Raises €22 Million in Nine Months as Government Considers 2027 Budget Changes
Ireland’s Vape Tax Raises €22 Million in Nine Months as Government Considers 2027 Budget Changes
According to Irish media outlets Highland Radio and BreakingNews.ie, the Irish government is considering whether to adjust vape tax policy in the 2027 Budget. The tax has generated about €22 million ($24 million) in revenue during its first nine months. While no increase has been confirmed, the revenue performance could influence future fiscal discussions. Any tax rise could increase product costs and potentially affect retail prices.
Aug.12
Product | PMI Japan Launches SENTIA Passion Fruit Capsule, Expanding the IQOS ILUMA Flavor Portfolio
Product | PMI Japan Launches SENTIA Passion Fruit Capsule, Expanding the IQOS ILUMA Flavor Portfolio
Philip Morris Japan (PM Japan) has introduced SENTIA Passion Fruit Capsule, a new tobacco stick designed for the IQOS ILUMA heated tobacco platform. Featuring a crush-activated capsule, the product combines menthol with passion fruit flavor to provide an additional flavor experience. The product launched in Japan from August 3, 2026, through IQOS official channels, convenience stores and tobacco retailers.
Aug.04
Product | JT to Launch MEVIUS Tropical Option in Japan, Expanding Ploom Tobacco Stick Lineup to 32
Product | JT to Launch MEVIUS Tropical Option in Japan, Expanding Ploom Tobacco Stick Lineup to 32
Japan Tobacco (JT) will launch MEVIUS Tropical Option, a new tobacco stick for Ploom, nationwide in Japan from October 6, 2026. The capsule-format product combines mango-oriented sweetness with menthol cooling, adding a tropical flavor to the MEVIUS Ploom tobacco-stick lineup for the first time. Each pack contains 20 sticks and will launch at JPY 590. The product is compatible with all Ploom devices, and its addition will expand the Ploom tobacco-stick portfolio to 32 variants.
Sep.08
Cochrane 2026 Update Adds Nine Trials, Keeps High-Certainty Finding That Nicotine E-Cigarettes Improve Quit Rates Over NRT
Cochrane 2026 Update Adds Nine Trials, Keeps High-Certainty Finding That Nicotine E-Cigarettes Improve Quit Rates Over NRT
Cochrane’s 2026 update of its living review on electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation included 80 randomized controlled trials involving 29,861 adult smokers, with nine trials added in this update. The review retained its high-certainty conclusion that nicotine e-cigarettes increase smoking cessation rates compared with nicotine replacement therapy. In absolute terms, about 10 in 100 people using nicotine e-cigarettes may quit smoking for at least six months, compared with about 6 in 100 using NRT. The review found no clear difference in serious adverse event rates between the two groups, while longer-term safety and the relative effectiveness of newer device types remain less certain.
Sep.07
Exclusive Analysis | Smoore H1 Revenue Rises 19.9% Amid Growth Concentration, Profit Pressure and Slowing Momentum
Exclusive Analysis | Smoore H1 Revenue Rises 19.9% Amid Growth Concentration, Profit Pressure and Slowing Momentum
Smoore’s first-half 2026 revenue rose 19.9%, but the results revealed growing structural risks beneath the headline growth. Heat-not-burn contributed about 61% of incremental revenue and remains driven largely by one core customer, while traditional vaping markets diverged, own-brand growth slowed and China enterprise revenue declined further. Gross profit and adjusted profit lagged revenue growth, while second-quarter revenue growth slowed to about 1.9%, putting greater focus on the quality, concentration and sustainability of Smoore’s expansion.
Capital Markets
Aug.20