Special Panel Studying Ways To Stop Vaping Among School Kids

---

A new law, called the Tobacco Act, is being drawn up to supervise the usage of tobacco, vape, electronic cigarettes and shisha.ISKANDAR: A special health ministry committee is looking at the problem of proliferation of vape and electronic cigarette smoking among students, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said today
He said Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye is heading this special committee
It is looking at the issue of vape and shisha, which involve the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the health ministry’s pharmacy enforcement division, responsible for looking at tobacco products containing nicotine, he added
Dzulkefly was answering a call made by Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Lee Lam Thye that firm and integrated action needs to be taken to tackle the issue affecting school children, Bernama reported
‘’We need joint enforcement and we specifically don’t want these products to be accessible to children aged below 18,” he said after launching the Communication For Behavioural Impact Convention, in conjunction with Asean Dengue Day
Dzulkefly said the ministry, as announced earlier, was drawing up a new act to supervise the usage of tobacco, vape, electronic cigarettes and shisha,
This Tobacco Act, expected to tackle all these issues comprehensively, will be tabled soon, he added
‘’At the moment, the ministry’s legal advisers are studying the law and it is set to be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers soon,’’ he said
Asked whether sweets such the current craze called “Ghost Smoke” (or Cool Fruit Powder), which allows children to emit a vape-like smoke, would be covered by the act, Dzulkefly said this product is still under investigation
‘’We have taken samples and are investigating these sweets. Maybe next week, we will make a clear stand on this,’’ he said. - FMT

---