As reported by The Star on Feb 27, Selangor State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin revealed that the implementation of e-cigarette product registration will start from April 1.
Jamaria said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had yet to issue business licences to e-cigarette vendors and would be fined if they were found to be selling e-cigarettes. She said this in response to a query from Taman Medan GRC MP Dr. Afif Bahardin on the sale of e-cigarettes in his constituency during the Selangor state Assembly. Afif pointed out that some e-cigarette businesses even dared to put up large billboards outside their stores.
Jamaria mentioned that the state worked with the Health Department and Selangor Health Department to monitor the use of e-cigarettes from a health perspective. This move is consistent with the implementation of the Public Health Smoking Products Control Act of 2024 (Act 852). The law covers the registration, sale, packaging, labeling of e-cigarettes and the prohibition of smoking in public places.
Jamaria noted that the regulation of the registration of e-cigarette products and their sale over the counter will begin on April 1, and the regulation of product packaging and labeling will begin on October 1, with local governments also participating in these enforcement actions.
In addition, Jamaria also mentioned that MBPJ will soon convene a meeting to specifically address the issue of e-cigarettes. The state government will work with the health department to monitor the levels of harmful chemicals, particularly nicotine, in e-cigarettes. Other measures include monitoring the use of e-cigarettes in public places, especially schools, hospitals and restaurants, while raising public awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes.