Vape Consumer Association Push For Regulation Instead Of Endgame Ban
The vape community and consumers are urging that the government rethinks its plans for the bill.
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Vape Consumer Association of Malaysia (VCAM) acknowledges that vaping is not risk-free, but there is growing scientific evidence that it is certainly less harmful than smoking cigarettes in comparison.
With the Malaysian Government introducing Generational Endgame (GEG), better known as the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill, the vape community and consumers are urging that the government rethinks its plans for the bill.
We strongly support the Government’s decision in introducing the GEG to tackle the high rise of cancer patients in Malaysia however the ban does not only affect smoking and prohibits the ownership of tobacco, but also vape products.
In order to protect the younger generation and achieve a smoke-free nation, VCAM firmly urges the Government to introduce laws and regulations for the sale of vaping products.Â
As a consumer association, VCAM opposes any form of vape use by underaged consumers, whether or not they contain nicotine. By having regulations, all vape products will only be sold to adult consumers safely and legally.
Should vaping be banned, smokers would no longer have a safe alternative to turn to and they might have to resort to quitting cold turkey, which has been proven to be less effective.
If there are no alternatives offered for our consumers, people will start looking elsewhere and this is a dangerous route to go down as people will always find a way.Â
We understand how the nation’s current concern, with multiple incidences of underage vaping and abuse of vapes by parents, has penetrated our mainstream and social media.
Selling and buying vaping products to anyone aged under 18 should be strictly prohibited to avoid misuse and violations of nicotine vaping products.
Netizens are also claiming for the regulations to strike a balance, ensuring vaping products are available for smokers as a cessation tool and concurrently ensuring these products are not marketed or sold to underaged people.Â
As Health Minister of Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin recently said, it will take at least two years for community education, a robust implementation plan, and ramp-up enforcement.
Should alternatives not be made available, the GEG could contribute to the rising demand for tobacco products in the black market.
With no proper restrictions or regulations, tobacco products sold in the black market can be counterfeited, which can then cause bodily harm due to the unregulated ingredients and quality.
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