Vape industry says eight in 10 of businesses want regulation, warns against drastic changes like generational ban

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy (MVIA) said today that 82 per cent of vape businesses have urged Putrajaya to take immediate steps to regulate the industry, since such a move has been delayed since 2015.

Its president Rizani Zakaria said a poll involving 160 vape entrepreneurs by a group calling itself RegulateVape indicated that 95 per cent of respondents believed regulations will prevent sales to children, while 75 per cent agreed that regulation will help ensure vape products meet safety and quality standards.

“Moreover, 70 per cent vape businesses believe that regulations will create job opportunities and attract domestic and foreign direct investment,” he said in a statement here.

Rizani added a vast majority of vape businesses have been self-regulating and adhering to the highest standards to ensure product safety, while at the same time investing significantly to spur the growth of the industry.

“The government should look at options to immediately regulate the vape industry instead of waiting for a new Act to be tabled in Parliament.

“This will quickly ensure industry activities are regulated to prevent sales to children and at the same time, the industry is able to develop further while contributing to the country’s economy,” he said.

Rizani also said 85 per cent of respondents agreed that regulations cannot be too drastic as many in the industry indicated their concern against the generational endgame (GEG) proposal to ban smoking for those born from 2007 last year which then resulted in the government reviewing and reassessing the proposal again.

“This industry, valued at RM2.27 billion in 2019, has the potential to play a key role in contributing to the country as the industry also employs a local workforce and has the capabilities to drive foreign and domestic investments.

“Through our poll, it is clear that vape players are open and ready to be regulated without drastic regulations that allow them to further contribute to the economy,” he said.

MVIA said it is a non-profit advocacy group that supports Malaysian vape entrepreneurs and businesses and aims to represent the Malaysian vape industry and provide a voice for the industry with government bodies, regulators, enforcement agencies and other interested parties.