THE new standalone law currently being drafted by the Health Ministry for tobacco control will include the control of e-cigarettes and vapes, said the ministry today.

Regulation is currently split between the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, which dictates the law for traditional cigarettes, and the Poisons Act 1952, which controls products containing nicotine, which in this case are the e-liquids for vapes.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had previously announced that the Tobacco Control Act will only regulate traditional cigarettes.

The Tobacco Control Unit today confirmed the inclusion of e-cigarettes and vapes into the Act.

“We aim to complete it by year-end before submitting it to the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” said Dzulkefly at a press conference at the Health Ministry in Putrajaya today.

“It is still a work in progress.”

He refused to comment further on the content of the Act, saying that he did not want to “jump the gun”.

Last week, Dzulkefly said in Malacca that the Tobacco Control Act will also designate all public places as no-smoking areas, with a limited list of places where smokers can light up their cigarettes.

He had said this was to ensure the public – especially women and children – did not fall victim to secondhand smoke. – April 8, 2019.