On vaping products, e-cigarettes?
> Govt may increase minimum age for sale of tobacco products to 21
PUTRAJAYA: The government is mulling the ban of e-cigarettes and vaping products as well as increasing the minimum age for the sale and purchase of tobacco and tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this was among several items included in the draft for a proposed Control of Tobacco and Smoking Product Act being deliberated by the ministry’s legal advisers.
“This is one of the measures we are looking at. We are working towards that agenda.
“However, I will have to discuss this seriously first with my officers and we will issue a statement on the outcome soon,” he told reporters after officiating the nationallevel “World No Tobacco Day” celebration yesterday.
Dzulkefly did not elaborate on the matter, saying he had not personally looked at the draft bill, and that he did not want to supersede it.
Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong said the minister would be briefed on the finer details of the draft soon.
“This (age limit increase) is in the bill, but it is yet to be presented to the minister. So I don’t think we are at liberty to discuss it.”
Dzulkefly said the draft for the proposed Act had been submitted earlier to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, but was returned as there were several recommendations for changes that needed to be done.
“Our legal advisers are looking at it now. I will follow up with this matter personally to ensure the bill is tabled in Parliament as soon as possible.”
Dzulkefly said the government has no plans at the moment to increase cigarette prices., adding prices would also not go down despite the goods and services tax being zero-rated to ensure the prohibitive price remained to control the use of cigarettes.
Dzulkefly said the ministry was also considering banning the sale and use of ecigarettes and any vaping products.
On any cost-cutting measures the ministry would look into, Dzulkefly said he would relook especially at the procurement aspects of drugs, hospital services and equipment and a comprehensive auditing would be done.