Latest news with #IndustrialCoordinationAct1975
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Letting US-based firm make e-cigarettes in Johor ‘a huge mistake', says expert
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, FMT Text Size: Ispire Technology Inc claimed to be the only company fully authorised to manufacture, import, and export nicotine products in Malaysia, and said it could start operations immediately. (LinkedIn pic) PETALING JAYA: A health expert has criticised the move to grant a US-based company licence to manufacture electronic cigarette devices with nicotine-based liquids or gels in Johor, describing it as 'a huge mistake'. Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the green light for Ispire Technology Inc would give the impression that the government endorsed the vape industry. He said this was at odds with its efforts to curb smoking, especially among the youth. 'It is a huge misstep by the government, and now they are in damage control mode,' he told FMT, referring to the health ministry's assurance that nicotine-based vape liquids remain tightly regulated. 'Malaysia aims to become a tobacco-free nation by 2040, but this licence is inconsistent with its goal.' Health think tank CodeBlue recently reported that Ispire Technology, which operates a facility in Senai, Johor, had its interim licence approved last month by both federal and state authorities. The company claimed to be the only one fully authorised to manufacture, import, and export nicotine products in Malaysia, and said it could start operations immediately. The health ministry subsequently said that nicotine-based vape liquids remained tightly regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), despite their approval for sale in Malaysia. The ministry said these products fell under the category of 'smoking products', under Section 2 of Act 852 which covers any substances used for smoking including nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, and triethylene glycol. It also said that the manufacturing licence was issued by the investment, trade and industry ministry through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975. The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) agreed that granting Ispire Technology a licence would send mixed signals. Fomca CEO T Saravanan said it would give the impression that the product was safe for consumption despite the lack of evidence that vape is a healthier alternative to smoking. He added that public health should not take a back seat to the vape industry. 'If the government is really committed to protecting the younger generation from nicotine addiction, they should bar manufacturers from selling the product in the local market,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
MOH reaffirms strict enforcement on smoking products to safeguard public health
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Getty Images PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict enforcement and control on the contents and emissions of all types of smoking products to safeguard public health and safety. In a statement today, MOH clarified that the importation, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids in the local market are strictly regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 [Act 852] The ministry's Disease Control Division stated that the issuance of interim manufacturing licences for such devices falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975 and local authority by-laws. MOH noted that under Section 2 of Act 852 and its accompanying regulations and orders, e-cigarette liquids are defined as smoking products and therefore strictly regulated. The ministry also clarified that multiple government agencies are involved in regulating the e-cigarette industry in Malaysia, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, which oversees import controls under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2008. In addition, safety standard testing for devices is conducted by SIRIM and enforced under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Electronic Cigarette Devices) Order 2022, under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living. It stated that any decision regarding the import, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids is a collective decision made by all relevant government agencies. MOH issued the clarification following media reports on May 28 that U.S.-based vape and e-cigarette company Ispire Technology Inc. had been granted a temporary licence to operate in Senai, Johor. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MOH enforces smoking rules to protect public health
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict enforcement and control on the contents and emissions of all types of smoking products to safeguard public health and safety. In a statement today, MOH clarified that the importation, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids in the local market are strictly regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 [Act 852] The ministry's Disease Control Division stated that the issuance of interim manufacturing licences for such devices falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975 and local authority by-laws. MOH noted that under Section 2 of Act 852 and its accompanying regulations and orders, e-cigarette liquids are defined as smoking products and therefore strictly regulated. The ministry also clarified that multiple government agencies are involved in regulating the e-cigarette industry in Malaysia, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, which oversees import controls under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2008. In addition, safety standard testing for devices is conducted by SIRIM and enforced under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Electronic Cigarette Devices) Order 2022, under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living. It stated that any decision regarding the import, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids is a collective decision made by all relevant government agencies. MOH issued the clarification following media reports on May 28 that U.S.-based vape and e-cigarette company Ispire Technology Inc. had been granted a temporary licence to operate in Senai, Johor.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MOH reaffirms strict enforcement on smoking products to safeguard public health
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict enforcement and control on the contents and emissions of all types of smoking products to safeguard public health and safety. In a statement today, MOH clarified that the importation, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids in the local market are strictly regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 [Act 852] The ministry's Disease Control Division stated that the issuance of interim manufacturing licences for such devices falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975 and local authority by-laws. MOH noted that under Section 2 of Act 852 and its accompanying regulations and orders, e-cigarette liquids are defined as smoking products and therefore strictly regulated. The ministry also clarified that multiple government agencies are involved in regulating the e-cigarette industry in Malaysia, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, which oversees import controls under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2008. In addition, safety standard testing for devices is conducted by SIRIM and enforced under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Electronic Cigarette Devices) Order 2022, under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living. It stated that any decision regarding the import, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids is a collective decision made by all relevant government agencies. MOH issued the clarification following media reports on May 28 that U.S.-based vape and e-cigarette company Ispire Technology Inc. had been granted a temporary licence to operate in Senai, Johor.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Vape device interim licence issued by Miti
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has clarified that a recent interim licence for manufacturing nicotine-based vape devices was issued by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti). The licence was granted through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975 and local licensing laws. This comes after media reports said a Nasdaq-listed company from the United States had received Malaysia's first federal licence to produce nicotine products. The Health Ministry explained that while Miti issues manufacturing licences, the production, import, and sale of nicotine liquids are regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). Section 2 of the Act defines nicotine liquids—including substances like nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, and triethylene glycol—as smoking products. These products can be sold in Malaysia, but they are strictly regulated. The ministry said it is responsible for monitoring the contents and emissions of these products to protect public health. "The regulation of these smoking products also involves other government agencies, including an import control by the Customs Department through restrictions covering raw materials and finished goods under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2008. "Among others, device safety standard testing by Sirim, enforced under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking) of Electronic Cigarette Devices (Vape Device) Order 2022 under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, under the purview of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry," the statement read. The Health Ministry stressed that all decisions on vape liquid production and sales are made jointly by relevant authorities and reaffirmed its commitment to strong enforcement and public health safety.
