Vaping considered like smoking – Dr Lee

SIBU: Vaping is governed like smoking as most of the vaping liquid contain nicotine, which is a tobacco product, according to Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.

“Most vaping liquid contain nicotine, so it is treated as tobacco product and subject to same restrictions as smoking,” he informed The Borneo Post yesterday when asked if the smoking ban enforced nationwide also covered vaping.

According to the Control of Tobacco Products (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2015, ‘smoking’ means inhaling and expelling the smoke or vapour of any tobacco product and includes the holding of or control over any ignited, heated or vaporised tobacco product.

Meanwhile, asked if individuals who continue to smoke at eateries despite given verbal warning can be slapped with a fine up to RM10,000 or two years’ jail even during the six-month grace period, Dr Lee said: “Legally, yes.”

However, the first six months is for educational enforcement, he added.

“Hence no summons will be issued during this six-month period unless of course if there are recalcitrant smokers who openly challenge the enforcement officers.”

Commenting further, he explained that the educational enforcement applies to both smokers and owners of premises.

“It is an offence under the Act if the eateries provide ash tray within the no-smoking zone, that is within 10 feet of the eateries’ boundaries.

“Such offence carries a penalty of up to RM5,000 or jail up to one year after the six-month period,” he stressed.

The smoking ban at all eateries, which was enforced in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah on Jan 1 and Feb 1 respectively, took effect in Sarawak on March 1.

A total of 480 environmental and assistant environmental health officers were deployed across the state to enforce the smoking ban at all eateries.

State Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim disclosed that during the first two weeks, educational enforcement will be carried out on daily basis to cover all eating premises or as many as possible, followed by twice a week for another two consecutive weeks.

“After that, it’ll be carried out weekly for a period of two months, and subsequently twice a month for the next three months.

“After the six months grace period of educational enforcement, full enforcement will be carried out throughout the state,” she added.