High Court nicotine ruling hailed as major public health victory amid growing vape concerns
A Malaysian High Court ruling has invalidated the government's 2023 exemption of nicotine liquids from poison regulations, a decision hailed by healthcare groups as a victory for public health.Summary
Malaysia's High Court has ruled that the government's 2023 decision to exempt liquid and gel nicotine from the Poisons List was unlawful and irrational. The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) described this judgment as a major victory for public health, arguing that it restores critical safeguards that healthcare professionals had long warned were being dangerously weakened. MPS president Amrahi Buang stated that pharmacists and public health advocates consistently opposed the exemption because it created a serious regulatory vacuum that increased youth exposure to nicotine products. He emphasized that "Public health safeguards should not be sacrificed for administrative convenience or fiscal objectives." The society expressed solidarity with other organizations that initiated the judicial review. The ruling reinforces the importance of the Poisons Board and expert consultation in matters involving scheduled poisons. With the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 now in force, MPS urged authorities to intensify enforcement against vape products marketed towards youths while expanding cessation services nationwide. The court's decision followed a judicial review application filed by three public health organizations challenging the government's move to remove liquid nicotine from poison control regulations in 2023.
(Source：The Vibes)
