There are suggestions for the sale of refills for electronic cigarettes and the gadget should not be made available to those below 18 years of age.
Dato Andrew Wong
SIBU: Electronic refills or e-liquids containing nicotine for electronic cigarettes should not be sold to people below a certain age, said Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman Dato Andrew Wong.
He suggested that the age limit be set at 18 like that enforced on the sale of tobacco products.
According to the Ministry of Health’s directives, the sale of nicotine products could only be made through licensed pharmacies and registered medical practitioners.
Selling refills containing nicotine for e-cigarettes at places other than the approved premises is an offence, liable to a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or a year’s jail or both.
Those caught distributing (wholesalers) the stuff will be fined not more than RM25,000 or three years’ jail or both under Sale of Drugs Act 1952.
Wong hoped that the ministry could step up their enforcement to ensure the stuff was not easily available such as in shops or other retail outlets.
“Therefore, I hope the authority concerned can come up with a regulation to make it illegal to sell refills containing nicotine to individuals below 18 years old. The sale of refills should be treated like that of ordinary cigarettes.
“Some people claim the liquid does not have nicotine but just looks ‘cool’ to attempt it. But to me, this is difficult to say as even at three, six or 12 per cent nicotine level, which is lower than the 18 per cent in cigarettes, it still creates a lot of addictiveness to smoking.
“So, if it is not controlled, it is going to create a new generation of smokers. To solve this, and if MoH is serious on this matter, it should go all out to ensure the refills are only available in licensed pharmacies and registered medical practitioners. Then, at the state-level perhaps, a decision must be made on how to control the issue. It is either enforcing the age limit or follow MoH’s directives,” Wong told The Borneo Post.
He suggested the same approach be applied to the sale of the gadget (e-cigarettes), describing the easily availability of the device as ‘worrying’.
Wong was asked on the ministry’s call for local councils not to issue any licence to premises selling refills.
He said SMC had no law to regulate this.
“But basically that is up to MoH’s enforcement to ensure they are not readily available.”
On the part of SMC, he said they would notify the ministry if they found any businesses registered with them (SMC) selling the liquid.
Wong also voiced concern that those smoking e-cigarette included students and those in their early or late 20s.
“What is even more worrying is the fact that e-cigarettes are associated with status much like a watch.”
This had led to modification of the device to produce more smoke apart from the eye-catching design.
He believed many parents were unaware that their children had taken to vaping as the refills came in myriads of flavours unlike cigarettes.
“What I am concerned about is the readily available avenues for kids to get them. Hence, if the liquid is not controlled, you won’t know its quality.
“Can you imagine what you are putting into your body,” he asked.
Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, state health director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan said the department carried out sporadic checks for refills that contained nicotine.
“We may take samples to test for nicotine content. If the refills contain nicotine, the item will be confiscated and the seller prosecuted.”