Kedah vape traders told to cease operations by December
The state government said seven months is enough time for retailers to shift to other businesses.
PETALING JAYA : Vape retailers in Kedah have been given until December to cease operations following the state-wide ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes.
State housing, local government and health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the state government would not extend the grace period as seven months was enough time for retailers to shift to other businesses.
In a Berita Harian report, Mansor said full enforcement would begin early next year, and that the authorities would not hesitate to seize vape products.
'Most business licences will expire this December, and a small number will expire in January and February next year. If they (the operators) remain stubborn and defy the order, we will issue compounds and confiscate their goods,' he said.
'Vape traders are expected to switch to other businesses after this. Seven months is a reasonable amount of time,' he said, adding that the decision was reached in a meeting with all local authorities in Kedah this week.
Mansor also called on the health ministry to revoke all licences for the manufacture and sale of vape at the federal level.
'The health ministry is always reminding the public of the harmful effects of vape, so the federal government needs to take firm action and ban its sale,' he said.
Last week, Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said the state government planned to stop the sale of vape and e-cigarettes in Kedah by next year.
He said the move was part of the state government's policy to tackle the growing abuse of synthetic drugs, including among school students.
Sanusi also said that vape products were increasingly being misused through the mixing of illegal substances into vape liquids before sale.
Yesterday, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun said the state was considering a ban on the sale of vape or electronic cigarettes in the state amid rising concern over their impact on public health, especially among the youth.
Terengganu and Perlis will ban the sale of vape products from Aug 1, joining Johor and Kelantan which implemented bans in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Selangor and Penang are still weighing a blanket ban.
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