The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) is disappointed by the government’s decision to appeal the High Court’s ruling. The court found that the delisting of liquid nicotine from the Poisons List was unlawful.
MPS has consistently opposed the removal of liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. It should remain under appropriate regulatory control.
The original delisting decision removed an important safeguard for public health, particularly for children and adolescents. Once access becomes easier, reversing uptake in young populations is very difficult.
The High Court ruling gave the government a chance to correct a policy decision that raised serious concerns amongst healthcare professionals and public health advocates. MPS believes the Ministry of Health (MOH) should use this opportunity to strengthen nicotine control. Pursuing an appeal does the opposite.
Recent developments make this matter more urgent. The Deputy Inspector General of Police called for a total ban on vape products after “Piu Piu,” a new synthetic drug, was detected in vape liquids.
This is not simply a nicotine issue. Vape products have become a vehicle for dangerous substances, and the public health and public safety implications are now considerably broader.
The decision to appeal is also difficult to reconcile with the government’s own previous positions. The Health Minister had stated publicly that a vape ban was a matter of time and had committed to stronger measures against vaping. The current appeal contradicts those statements.
It raises reasonable questions about policy consistency and sends an unclear signal about the government’s direction on nicotine regulation.
MPS is deeply concerned about the increasing use of vape products amongst children and young people. Flavoured products and aggressive marketing continue to draw young Malaysians into nicotine addiction at an early age. If this trend continues unchecked, gains made over decades in tobacco control may be reversed.
MPS urges the government to take firm and immediate action rather than defend the removal of nicotine controls. Nicotine should be reinstated under an appropriate controlled category of the Poisons Act, with Group C classification warranting serious consideration. Controls on the manufacturing, importation, distribution, advertising and sales of nicotine-containing vape products should be tightened.
MPS also calls for stronger enforcement against illegal vape products and those misused to deliver dangerous substances. Products designed to attract children and adolescents should not be permitted on the market.
The government should work closely with enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, schools and community organisations on this.
Malaysia has earned international recognition for its tobacco control efforts. Those gains depend on clear and consistent policy. The protection of children and young people must remain central to all decisions on nicotine and vape products.
MPS remains committed to protecting public health and future generations from nicotine addiction. Now is the time to strengthen nicotine control.
Public health must be the primary consideration in national policy, not a consideration to be weighed against it.
This statement was issued by MPS president Prof Amrahi Buang.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
