PMI: GEG bill would hinder foreign investment in Malaysia's vaping sector

Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco (JTI) have made recommendations regarding Malaysia's 2023 Public Health Tobacco Product Control Bill (GEG Bill).

Recently, Malaysia has been reviewing the 2023 Public Health Tobacco Product Control Bill (GEG Bill). It is reported that the drafting of this bill has also consulted international tobacco companies.

Two reports submitted to the Malaysian Health Council Special Committee (PSSC) found that the international tobacco companies involved in the proposal include Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco (JTI).

According to PMI, the classification of vaping devices in the bill will become a major barrier to existing and future foreign investment, especially in Johor; BAT firmly believes that vaping can help reduce harm and therefore recommends that Malaysia adopt appropriate laws and policies to encourage smokers to switch to lower-risk tobacco products; JTI explicitly stated that Malaysia does not need to create new laws and can directly adopt the 2004 Smoking (Prohibition of Advertising and Sale) Act (PPKHT), which PMI also supports.

Here are the specific proposals from the three companies:

Philip Morris International (PMI) 

• The classification of vaping devices in the bill will become a major barrier to existing and future foreign investment, particularly in the electrical and electronics sector, especially in Johor. The manufacturing of vaping devices is a growing branch of the electrical and electronics industry.

• Vaping devices can be regulated separately through laws and regulations to meet existing technological and user needs, including compliance with international electrical standards.

• The government needs to strictly enforce existing laws to reduce illegal trade and ensure compliance with the 2004 Smoking (Prohibition of Advertising and Sale) Act (PPKHT). Additionally, the government needs to strengthen age verification controls and take measures to prevent minors from using vaping devices.

British American Tobacco (BAT)

• Methods to reduce tobacco harm are crucial for formulating policies to reduce smoking prevalence. Past research has shown that vaping has the potential to reduce harm.

• This harm reduction approach has proven successful in other countries, and Malaysia is also advancing the implementation of this approach based on its own research findings.

• Through appropriate laws and policies to encourage smokers to switch to lower-risk tobacco products, Malaysia hopes to reduce the smoking rate to below 5% by 2040.
  

Japan Tobacco (JTI)

• The government should further consult and analyze the appropriateness of Malaysia's "Generation Quit" policy. 

• Regulating vaping products and nicotine-containing vaping e-liquids can be enforced through the existing 2004 Smoking (Prohibition of Advertising and Sale) Act (PPKHT) without the need for new legislation.