Pharmacists urge government not to appeal vape nicotine ruling, calls for stronger controls
Pharmacists urge the government to accept a court ruling that liquid nicotine should be regulated as a poison, rather than appealing the decision.Summary
The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has urged the government not to appeal a High Court ruling that found the 2023 exemption of liquid nicotine unlawful. The court decision, which returned nicotine to poison control regulations, was described by MPS President Professor Amrahi Buang as an opportunity to strengthen Malaysia's regulatory framework. He emphasized that nicotine is a dependence-forming substance requiring appropriate oversight, not just a taxable consumer product. Pharmacists had warned for nearly two years that removing nicotine liquids from poison control would create a regulatory loophole, especially as vape products became more accessible to younger consumers. The MPS called for stronger enforcement under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, particularly against the sale and marketing of vape products to youths. The court ruled that the government's decision to remove nicotine from the Poisons List was irrational, made without proper consultation with the Poisons Board, and motivated primarily by economic reasons. The judicial review was filed by the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children.
(Source：Thesun)
