KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — After gazetting an excise duty for vape liquids with nicotine content, the Ministry of Health (MoH) will table a new law to regulate nicotine use which will include the Generation End Game (GEG) policy.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said her ministry aims to present the new Bill immediately at the next Parliament sitting in May.

"In order to ensure that there is comprehensive control over nicotine preparations or gels containing nicotine in the liquid of electronic cigarettes or vape, the ministry will introduce a new Bill that will regulate all smoking products including smoking materials containing nicotine used for smoking purposes,” she said in a statement today.

Dr Zaliha said her ministry had conducted an engagement session regarding the policies that have been set under this new Bill.

She added the session had included the provision of the GEG to all stakeholders such as parliamentarians, non-governmental organisations, professional bodies and other relevant parties.

Dr Zaliha said that the ministry would intensify the advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes or vaping through the GEG Anti-Smoking Plan (Gegar).

"MoH will continue implementing smoking prevention programmes and smoking cessation interventions in schools and institutions of higher learning through collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Foundation Graduate Volunteers, Malaysian Youth Council and related non-governmental bodies,” she said.

Dr Zaliha said that MoH is concerned over the reactions received in the mass media following the exclusion of liquid or gel preparations containing nicotine for the purpose of smoking using electronic cigarettes or electronic vaporisation devices from the List of Poisons in the First Schedule, Poisons Act 1952 (Act 366).

She explained that the exemption was in line with the decision made in the Budget 2023 presentation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the government will impose an excise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used for electronic cigarettes and vaping.

"Following the exemption, liquid or gel preparations containing nicotine for the purpose of smoking using electronic cigarettes or electronic vaporisation devices are now an excise duty item and are controlled under the Excise Act 1976 (Act 176).

"The Excise Act 1976 provides control among other things by licensing manufacturing and warehousing activities involving these preparations.

"Any person who manufactures excise duty goods without a license may be subject to legal action,” she said.

Yesterday, Putrajaya has gazetted an excise duty for vape liquids with nicotine content at 40 sen per millilitre.

The new duty will come into operation beginning today following the commencement of Excise Duties (Amendment) Order 2023.