KUALA LUMPUR, October 6 — Starting October 1, 2024, selling vape products and e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 will be a crime in Malaysia, thanks to the new Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024. This law aims to safeguard minors by imposing strict penalties on sellers who violate it. Convicted offenders could face hefty fines, imprisonment, or both, for selling any form of smoking product—including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape liquids, or gels—to children.
The law also places responsibility on minors, making it illegal for them to purchase or use vape products. Those convicted could face fines of up to RM500 or be ordered to perform community service under the Child Act 2001 or Criminal Procedure Code. The health ministry hopes these penalties will deter both sellers and minors from participating in the sale and use of vape products, which pose significant public health risks, particularly for younger generations.
Further regulations under the new law include hefty fines for smoking in designated non-smoking areas, with penalties of up to RM5,000 for violators. Business owners who fail to put up proper non-smoking signage in such areas also face similar fines. Additionally, the law covers a wide range of offenses, from promoting e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools to selling vaping products without meeting government standards for packaging and pricing.
Sellers, manufacturers, and importers of smoking products must also register their goods with the Health Ministry within six months of the law’s implementation. This will ensure monitoring and regulation of these products to close previous loopholes that allowed vape products to be sold freely. The new law marks a significant step in regulating e-cigarettes and vaping, ensuring that public health remains a priority in Malaysia.
