"A hot, hazy mess" in Malaysia

[sofarsogood]

Here is Malaysia thinking through how to regulate ecigs. Somebody from the UK is providing their perspective. It's a good discusion of the regulatory options with pros and cons.

A hot, hazy mess - Nation | The Star Online

"tobacco control” is the wrong framework because it seeks to limit and prohibit use, whereas e-cigs can help end the smoking habit."
“It’s illogical to regulate e-cigs more strictly than cigarettes. E-cig users aren’t medicating themselves but using a safer alternative to tobacco,” he says, adding that medicine regulation is anti-innovation.
"Excessive regulation will reduce innovation, deny consumers choice, and make access to e-cigs significantly harder than access to cigarettes. E-cigs need a separate, proportionate regulatory framework. Regulate e-cigs as consumer products.”

There's more. It's a good read.

 

[nicnik]

There's more. It's a good read.

It is. Thanks for posting. I also like how the article ends:

On whether Malaysia should look to the incoming EU Tobacco Products Directive to legislate the industry here, UM’s Dr Amer says we should have a set of rules that are specific and unique to our needs. Why should we adopt any foreign law lock, stock and barrel? Why should foreigners tell us what to do? he asks. Whatever regulation we draw up must be for health, not wealth, he stresses.

 

[sofarsogood]

It is. Thanks for posting. I also like how the article ends:

How right you are and it deserves repeating. "What ever regulation we draw up must be for health, not wealth, he stresses." How civilized.

 

[Jman8]

From the article:

“Excessive regulation will reduce innovation, deny consumers choice, and make access to e-cigs significantly harder than access to cigarettes. E-cigs need a separate, proportionate regulatory framework. Regulate e-cigs as consumer products.”

A sound regulatory regime for e-cigs, he offers, would include:

> Product standards for liquids and devices, true and fair information about ingredients and sell-by date, warnings and consumer messages, child-resistant liquid containers and stewardship requirements like person responsible and means to recall.

> Allowing advertising that prevents glamorisation and marketing to youth but that is balanced with commercial freedom to compete with the cigarette trade.

> Allowing flavours.

> Controls on marketing and retailing to target adult smokers.

> Permitting vaping in public places. Let the premises decide if they want to disallow it.

Ray Story, CEO of the Tobacco Vapour Electronic Cigarette Association, feels Malaysia must first decide how to categorise the product. That product definition can then be used to regulate it according to the legal framework.