The Malaysian Society for Harm Reduction (MSHR) has urged the government to amend existing laws to regulate vape products following the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) decision to exempt nicotine from the Poisons Act. The MSHR believes that the wait for the introduction of the new law, which will regulate all smoking products, including vape products, is too long. Therefore, the government should look into existing laws that can be amended or expanded to include vape products.
Existing Laws Regulating Tobacco Products Should Be Amended
MSHR Chairman, Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, said that since the legislative process takes time, the country could see the laws only to be introduced later this year. She believes that current laws regulating tobacco products are already strict and should be amended to enable vape products to be regulated immediately, given that the nicotine used in vape products is also derived from tobacco. This is to ensure safeguards are in place to protect consumers from prohibited ingredients and prevent products from falling into the hands of children.
Vape is a Less Harmful Alternative to Tobacco
Dr Sharifa said MSHR stands firm that vape is a less harmful alternative to tobacco and an effective harm reduction strategy. However, allowing easy access to vape products, especially among non-smokers and the underage, goes against harm reduction principles. At the same time, MSHR also urges the government to develop regulations that will consider the harm reduction potential of vape products.
Harm Reduction Potential of Vape Products
Multiple independent data sources from local and international research show that vape has been proven to be less harmful than smoking and is effective in helping smokers quit. These independent researches have also been acknowledged by the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand governments who are spearheading the tobacco harm reduction agenda. Therefore, in developing the regulations for vape products, the MoH needs to consider the harm reduction potential of vape products so it can be used as an alternative to smoking, especially among people who do not respond to the traditional NRT.
Lessons from Other Developed Countries
Dr Sharifa also recommends that Malaysia take lessons from other developed countries that strictly regulate the e-liquid quality and content, such as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates nicotine-containing products and e-liquids in the UK. The MHRA is responsible for enforcing the laws in the UK to regulate the products to ensure minimum standards for the safety and quality of all e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
The important part is that there are laws in place to spell out restrictions for specific products not exceeding specific nicotine strength, the maximum quantity of e-liquid in products, packaging to be child-resistant and tamper-evident, banning certain ingredients, including colourings, caffeine, diacetyl and taurine, and labelling requirements and warnings on all vape products.
“All these need to be included in any regulations to regulate vape products to ensure smokers have access to safe and quality products to quit smoking completely,” she said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, MSHR believes that the government should look into existing laws that can be amended or expanded to include vape products. The country needs regulations in place to protect consumers from prohibited ingredients and prevent products from falling into the hands of children. Vape is a less harmful alternative to tobacco, and the government should develop regulations that will consider the harm reduction potential of vape products. Malaysia can learn lessons from other developed countries that strictly regulate the e-liquid quality and content.
FAQs
What is MSHR, and what do they do?
The Malaysian Society for Harm Reduction (MSHR) is an organization that advocates for harm reduction strategies for drug use and smoking, which includes the use of vape products as an alternative to tobacco.What is the MSHR’s stance on regulating vape products?
The MSHR believes that the government should amend existing laws to regulate vape products immediately, given that the nicotine used in vape products is also derived from tobacco. The MSHR also urges the government to develop regulations that will consider the harm reduction potential of vape products.What is the harm reduction potential of vape products?
Multiple independent data sources from local and international research show that vape has been proven to be less harmful than smoking and is effective in helping smokers quit. These independent researches have also been acknowledged by the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand governments who are spearheading the tobacco harm reduction agenda.What can Malaysia learn from other developed countries that regulate vape products?
Malaysia can learn from other developed countries that strictly regulate the e-liquid quality and content, such as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates nicotine-containing products and e-liquids in the UK. The MHRA enforces laws to regulate the products to ensure minimum standards for the safety and quality of all e-cigarettes and e-liquids.Why is it essential to regulate vape products?
Regulating vape products is important to protect consumers from prohibited ingredients and prevent products from falling into the hands of children. It also ensures that smokers have access to safe and quality products to quit smoking completely.