BETTER regulation is more effective than a blanket ban. The question is if products that have not received approval from the Health Ministry (MOH) are still widely available in the market, what exactly is a ban supposed to achieve?
The main issue is not simply whether these products should be allowed or prohibited but how the government can ensure that products sold comply with regulations while those who break the law are held accountable.
Even before vaping products entered the market, smoking among school pupils was already a concern.
Therefore, we cannot view youth consumption as an issue caused solely by vaping. What matters is ensuring that controls over the sale and access to these products are effectively enforced.
At present, retailers operating from licensed premises are aware of and comply with the regulations in place.
They are subject to enforcement measures and are responsible for their respective business operations.
Online channel culprits
But what about online sellers or those operating without legitimate business premises? Drugs, for instance, are not sold openly in shops. Illegal products are traded through illegal channels.
We need to look at this issue from a broader perspective. Products that have not received MOH approval are still being sold through online platforms, including Telegram and WhatsApp.
The same applies to prohibited substances such as drugs which are more closely associated with the black market and illegal distribution networks.
Why, then, should greater attention not be given to these channels with stricter action taken against those involved in illegal sales?
Retailers operating from licensed premises are subject to restrictions prohibiting sales to minors as well as the relevant enforcement measures. Minors should not be able to purchase these products from retailers who comply with the law.
Therefore, the government must ensure that online sellers and those operating without legitimate business premises are also subject to equally strict controls and enforcement.
This issue is not about rejecting regulation but about how it is enforced. More importantly, all sales channels must be monitored, unapproved products must be curbed with those who violate the law must face action regardless of whether they operate from physical premises or online.
That said, there is no denying that uncertainty surrounding the regulations governing the industry has affected business operations.
Industry players are left in a state of uncertainty and hope that there will be no further drastic regulatory changes that could disrupt their businesses. – Nov 7, 2026
Mohamad Neezam Talib is president of the Malaysia E-Vaporiser and Alternative Tobacco Association (MEVTA)
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
