Malaysian Electronic Cigarette Alliance: 71.3% Of E-cigarette Users Oppose The Ban And May Turn To The Black Market

Malaysian Electronic Cigarette Alliance: 71.3% of e-cigarette users oppose the ban and may turn to the black market

A survey by the Malaysian Vaping Alliance (MVA) on the upcoming Public Health Tobacco Control Act 2024 showed that 71.3% of respondents opposed the retail display ban, believing that it would cause them to turn to illegal alternatives or return to smoking. The association's president called for a review of the policy, emphasizing that smokers should be encouraged to turn to e-cigarettes as a priority.

According to Focus Malaysia on September 19, a Malaysian e-cigarette consumer group expressed concerns about some key provisions of the upcoming Public Health Tobacco Control Act 2024 (Act No. 852). Recently, the Malaysian Vaping Alliance (MVA) launched a survey on views on the bill, collecting nearly 500 responses.

The survey results showed that

71.3% of respondents opposed the retail display ban. Among them, the inability to browse products before purchase (39.7%) and difficulties in the purchase process (38.3%) were the main reasons for dissatisfaction;

If the retail display ban comes into effect, consumers may seek illegal alternatives (47.4%) or return to smoking (44.5%). Only 8.1% of respondents said they would quit vaping completely if restrictions were imposed;

The majority of vapers are former smokers or are switching from cigarettes to vaping (74.4%), and 81.9% use nicotine-containing e-liquids, with 96.5% using nicotine content below 40mg.

MVA chairman Khairil Azizi Khairuddin commented that the survey results show that a retail display ban is not the solution. Restricting consumers' ability to browse and choose legal products will only push them to the black market where quality and safety are questionable.

Khairil also said that regulators should consider the impact of such restrictions on consumer behavior. E-cigarette users should have the right to make informed choices, and the implementation of a retail display ban would take away this right.

Khairil called on the Ministry of Health to reconsider the implementation of the retail display ban.

"Act 852 should prioritise measures to encourage smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, rather than imposing onerous requirements on e-cigarettes and treating them indistinguishably from tobacco regulations. Otherwise, smokers will continue to smoke or e-cigarette users will turn to the illicit market, which will undermine the role that e-cigarettes can play in reducing smoking rates in Malaysia."