The four e-cigarette groups represented by Datuk azwan abmanas, chairman of the Malaysian retail e-cigarette Association, will submit a memorandum to a special official in the prime minister's office, urging the government to consider the future of the Malaysian e-cigarette industry.
This is a response to the upcoming proposal of the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The Malaysian retail e-cigarette Association (mreca), the Malaysian e-cigarette chamber of Commerce (mvcc), the Malaysian e-cigarette Traders Association (ppvm) and the Malaysian electronic vaporizer and tobacco substitutes Association (mevta) represent more than 3000 entrepreneurs and enterprises, and currently employ 15000 employees from the manufacturing, distribution and retail industries of the domestic e-cigarette industry.
The memorandum includes comments and concerns about the proposed policy, which the Ministry of health has not previously considered.
"As an association representing the voice of local e-cigarette manufacturers, we believe that our view is crucial in formulating regulations for the industry, because it involves the future of local participants." Mreca president said.
The Malaysian retail e-cigarette Association (mreca) said that last April, it actually urged the parliamentary Special Committee on health, science and innovation (PSSC) to allow local e-cigarette industry participants to express their views on the proposed tobacco and smoking control bill.
AB Manas has said that the upcoming regulations on electronic cigarette products need to be discussed in more detail. "So far, there has been little discussion between the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the local industry. Our main concern is that the Ministry intends to introduce regulations to regulate e-cigarettes, similar to tobacco products."
He added that local authorities should distinguish between tobacco products and safer nicotine substitutes. "The government needs to see that tobacco and e-cigarette products are different. Clear evidence from all over the world shows that e-cigarette products are significantly less harmful than tobacco products. This is a fact that the government needs to consider. The laws of e-cigarette products and tobacco products cannot be the same."