THE Malaysian Pharmacists Society said it is strongly opposed to the Health Ministry’s proposal to exclude liquid or gel nicotine from the Poisons Act 1952 and urged the government to reject the idea.

It said the government should instead strengthen regulations concerning the use of e-cigarettes and vape devices, including restrictions on marketing and advertising of such products, and to increase public education about the dangers of nicotine use.

“We believe that such a proposal would be detrimental to the health and safety of the Malaysian public and is not in best interest of the country,” it said in a statement today. Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa earlier said her ministry will hold engagement sessions on policies for a new bill.

The new bill, which the Health Ministry hopes to table in May, seeks regulate all smoking products, including materials containing nicotine used in electronic cigarettes and vape devices.

Previously, there had been a proposal to exempt the liquid preparations or gels containing nicotine for the purpose of smoking using electronic cigarettes or electronic vaporisation devices from the Poisons Act 1952.

The exemption decision reportedly is in line with the decision tabled in Budget 2023 on February 24 that the government will impose excise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine for smoking under the Excise Act 1976.

“As pharmacists, we are committed to promoting public health and safety. Nicotine, whether in liquid or gel form, is a highly addictive substance that poses significant health risks,” the group said.

It also said studies had shown that nicotine use could lead to cardiovascular and lung disease, and cancer.

“Additionally, nicotine use during pregnancy can harm the developing foetus and lead to complications during childbirth,” it added.

Pharmacists also pointed out that in Malaysia, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping has become increasingly popular among young people.

It cited a study by the Health Ministry which reported that the prevalence of e-cigarette use among adults in Malaysia has increased from 0.3% in 2015 to 1.3% in 2019.

The group said the study also found that the majority of e-cigarette users in the country were young adults between the ages of 18 and 24.

“The Malaysian Pharmacists Society is deeply concerned about the impact of vaping on public health. According to the World Health Organization, vaping has been linked to more than 40 deaths worldwide, with over 2,000 cases of lung injury reported in the United States alone.

“In Malaysia, there have been several cases of lung injury and even death related to the use of e-cigarettes and vaping,” it said in the statement.

The Poisons Act 1952 was established to protect the public from the dangers of hazardous substances, including nicotine, and to regulate their sale, supply and use.

Pharmacists say they believe that the proposed exclusion of gel or liquid nicotine from poison control regulations under the poisons act “would undermine efforts to protect public health and safety”.

“Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that should be regulated in the same way as other poisons. Excluding it from the Poisons Act 1952 would send the wrong message to the public, particularly young people, and could lead to an increase in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping.” – April 1, 2023.