KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Convenience retail chain stores are still displaying tobacco and vape products despite a nationwide retail display ban that came into effect yesterday.
At least two outlets – KK Mart and myNEWS.com at The Scott Garden SOHO here – maintained open displays of cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products, and vapes behind the counter.
The retail display ban on conventional and electronic cigarettes came into effect on April 1 under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health (Control of Sale) Regulations 2024, according to a March 24 statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Regulation 6 on the smoking product display ban would reportedly involve more than 51,000 stores.
“Taking into effect the effectiveness and practicality of implementation in other countries, the most appropriate method for the implementation of the retail display ban is to prepare a closed cabinet instead of using a cloth or canvas,” said the MOH.
Despite announcing that the retail display ban on tobacco and vape products would be effective April 1, the MOH said in the same statement that it would continue “working with retailers” on the specifications of the suggested closed cabinets.
“This process is expected to be completed by October 1, 2025.”
Hence, it’s unclear if April 1 was the effective date of the tobacco retail display ban – or if it’s really October 1 – and if retailers continuing to display cigarettes and vapes from yesterday would be subject to prosecution.
The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health (Control of Sale) Regulations 2024 under Act 852 came into effect six months ago on October 1, 2024, but certain regulations, like the retail display ban, were slated for other dates of effect.
Packaging and labelling regulations are set for effect this October 1. Unlike these regulations with specific examples of acceptable packaging and labelling, the retail display ban does not come with specific examples in the law.
