KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to approve an amendment to the Poisons Act 1952 to allow for the legalisation of nicotine-laced products will help curb the rampant sale of vape products in the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said while increasing smoking awareness is necessary, the banning of vapes and cigarettes was seen as a drastic action.
"I agree with the professionals who slammed the matter. However, on the government side, it is a bit difficult for us to prohibit nicotine-laced products for the time being.
"Even though I personally do not condone smoking or vaping, the excise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used for electronic cigarettes and vaping was implemented as it (the use of vape) was too rampant.
"There are also some ulama' who prohibit smoking but the act is still wide and this is why the excise duty was introduced. It might seem as a mild approach but it can reduce the smoking habit among the young and old," he said during the prime minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Anwar said this in response to Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Perikatan Nasional-Kuala Langat) on the government's justification for the removal of liquid and gel nicotine products used in electronic cigarettes from the Poisons Act 1952.
Previously, the Health Ministry approved the amendment to the Act to remove nicotine from the list of poisons to pave the way for the legalisation of nicotine-laced products to allow it to be taxed.
Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the exemption of nicotine in the Act is in line with the 2023 Budget where the government would impose an excise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used for electronic cigarettes and vaping.
Further to this exemption, Dr Zaliha said liquid or gel containing nicotine to smoke through electronic cigarettes or electronic vaporisation devices was now an excise duty item and controlled under the Excise Act 1976 (Act 176).
At the same time, Anwar also promised that the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022 will be tabled in Dewan Rakyat next month to ensure comprehensive control over nicotine-laced products.
In response to a supplementary question from Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Pakatan Harapan-Bandar Kuching) on the government's commitment to table the Bill, Anwar said the implementation of the bill was delayed as it received negative feedback from many members of parliament (MP).
"The implementation of the bill that was introduced this year was delayed as it received negative feedback from the MPs.
"There were a lot of disagreements pertaining to the matter along with questions raised on the excise duty.
"However, we will not cancel the bill and will continue to present it (in May) after taking into account all views and opinions."
Meanwhile, Anwar said the government will consider returning 50 per cent of the excise duty to the Health Ministry to help the health sector.
"The government decided to return 50 per cent (from the excise duty on nicotine-laced products) to the ministry to help with the recovery of the health industry but to extend to other (matters) will also be considered."
