PETALING JAYA: The health ministry is still waiting for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to approve the regulations and orders under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
While the Act was gazetted on Feb 2, it has yet to come into force.
According to Bernama, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said they were in the final stages of obtaining the AGC’s approval on the Act’s regulations and orders.
The new law aims to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials and tobacco substitutes to minors, as well as to prohibit providing any smoking-related services to minors.
“With this Act, we will be able to address such issues more effectively. Previously, the ministry said it would be enforced this month, but not everything is within the ministry’s control,” said Dzulkefly.
“We are working with other departments, such as the AGC, because regulations and orders need to be carefully scrutinised to avoid any harm. They say the devil is in the details.”
Last week, Dzulkefly was quoted by Berita Harian as saying that all regulations and orders under the Act had been approved by the AGC, with the law expected to be enforced by October.
Dzulkefly also said there is no gap in enforcement despite the delay in enforcing Act 852, as health authorities can still use the Tobacco Product Control Regulations 2004.
Health groups have repeatedly urged the government to immediately enforce Act 852, particularly after Dzulkefly’s predecessor, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, removed liquid nicotine from the poisons list in March last year.
The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy had said Zaliha’s decision led to nicotine vape being widely available for children to buy, and retailers to legally sell them.
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