NGOs call for ban on e-cigarettes
KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty associations have signed a memorandum urging the government to impose a total ban on the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping immediately.
In a joint statement yesterday, they said the proposal to ban the product had been made to the government since 2015, when vaping was at its peak, but the Cabinet decided to regulate the product to give an opportunity for entrepreneurs to abide by the rules, it said.
“Unfortunately, the regulations were not adhered to.
“These days, we find sales, marketing and promotion of vape and nicotine-containing liquid in our country rampant and excessive.
“This has led to people who have never smoked becoming addicted to nicotine and vaping.
“We, representing thousands of members comprising parents, teachers, community health enthusiasts and various medical specialities, urge the government to totally ban electronic cigarettes and vape in the best interest of the public, ” it said.
The statement was read out by the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) vice-president Shaari Ahmad Junid during a press conference here yesterday.
The 2016 Tobacco and E-cigarette Survey among Malaysian adolescents estimated that 300,000 school students were vape users, it said.
“The general assumption that vaping is safe has led to the increase in its use. In reality, there is increasing evidence to the contrary, ” it said, citing concerns that the vapour contains heavy metals from the vaporisation process and vape components.
It also said that there was no strong evidence supporting the use of vape as a method to quit smoking.
The high nicotine content in addition to the rapid delivery mechanism cause individuals who vape to be constantly exposed to nicotine addiction, it said.
“This not only makes combating drug addiction difficult, but also the enforcement of detecting illegal drug users, ” it said.
It said that vape use is a public health threat causing worldwide concern, and to date, 43 countries had banned vape use, including Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia.
“There is no reason for Malaysia to continue allowing this. A complete ban by the government will shut the doors of illegal vape sale through the black market, as opposed to being legalised and regulated, as some of these products will be sold on online platforms that will be difficult to monitor and regulate, ” it said.
The economic benefits of certain groups was not an excuse to gamble away the future of the younger generation, it added.
At the press conference, MCTC president Prof Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rempal, also raised concern that 33 people in the United States had died as a result of vaping-related illness.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s overall health bills linked to smoking-related diseases had hit RM10bil a year, he said.
Given that Malaysia has a plan to end tobacco use — it aims to bring down the prevalence of tobacco use to 15% by 2025, and to less than 5% by 2045 – allowing vaping will disrupt the plan, he added.
Source: TheStar
