MVCC: Keep vape affordable to help smokers switch
"We support the government's goal of encouraging healthier choices.
"However, any tax on vape products must recognise that vape is significantly less harmful than cigarettes.
"It is crucial that vape remains more affordable than tobacco to incentivise smokers to switch," MVCC secretary-general Ridhwan Rosli told the New Straits Times.
Ridhwan said pricing vape products too closely to cigarettes risked discouraging smokers from making that transition which would ultimately undermine public health goals.
"pro-health" taxes on tobacco, vape and alcohol products under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to curb the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He said the government must be firm in addressing health risks.
He also said that pro-health taxes would be expanded beyond sugar to include products such as tobacco, vape and alcohol, not merely for revenue, but to drive behavioural change and combat NCDs.
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