Govt May Enact Vape Tax Once Legislation Enforced Deputy Minister

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PARLIAMENT | Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim said that the Finance Ministry intends to implement a tax on vaping devices and products once the legislation on vaping is enforced.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat this morning, Sim was answering Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s (Perikatan Nasional-Tasek Gelugor) question on whether the government has plans to turn vaping products into a source of diversified income.
He was referring to the Health Ministry’s re-tabling of the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022 and that there might be an announcement on the legislation during Budget 2023, which will be tabled this Friday.
“I believe the Health Ministry has examined the legislation because right now, vaping is not included in the law.
“There may be an announcement during the budget,” said Sim, who is Bukit Mertajam MP.
The deputy minister added that once the legislation on vaping is enforced, he would invite all fellow lawmakers to support taxing vape products.
Yesterday, it was announced that the ministry aims to re-table the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022 in the near future so that its enforcement can begin next year.
The ministry, in a response posted on the Parliament’s website, stated that it has conducted a review and will proceed with presenting the bill.
The bill will include the changes that were approved by the Special Select Committee, as mentioned in a statement released on Oct 5 of the previous year.
According to the ministry, the tabling of the bill was delayed due to the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10, 2022. - Mkini

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