Top Takeaways:
- Malaysian MOH to finalize vape and tobacco product registrations by October 1 — under the new Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, all e-cigarette and nicotine product registrations submitted between October 2024 and April 2025 are expected to be approved by this deadline.
- Unregistered products will be banned — only MOH-registered items may be sold at authorized outlets such as licensed convenience stores and specialty vape shops; unapproved items will face removal from the market.
- Enforcement measures tightened — local authorities will enforce strict shop distancing requirements (minimum 40 m from universities, 3 m from kindergartens and retailers) and zoning rules to enhance public safety and compliance
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has initiated a rigorous review of e-cigarette and other tobacco product registrations under its new tobacco regulations, with plans to complete approvals by October 1, 2025, the ministry confirmed at a recent briefing. The move is aimed at formalizing the market under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
Dr. Hairul Nizam Abd Hamid, senior assistant director at the MOH’s Disease Control Division, explained that the registration window ran from October 2024 to April 2025, and program evaluations are already in progress. “We have not yet approved any product registrations. As of October 1, any unregistered products will not be allowed to be marketed,” he stated.
E-cigarettes and vaping products will be permitted for sale only after obtaining MOH certification. Products holding proper registration will be available at regulated outlets including convenience stores and licensed vape shops, while market stalls and night markets will be excluded from legal supply chains.
In emphasizing accountability, MOH also alerted local authorities, such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), that retail outlets selling smoking products must hold MOH registration. “Shops that have not obtained certification from the Ministry of Health may be denied a business license,” Hairul warned.
Alongside registration enforcement, authorities are expected to enforce shop distancing rules, like prohibiting sales within 40 meters of tertiary institutions and three meters of kindergartens or other retailers.
Under Act 852, any tobacco or nicotine product imported, manufactured, or distributed must first gain MOH registration. Applicants are required to submit laboratory testing results, and products will undergo thorough screening for prohibited substances. “If the product contains any suspicious ingredients, we will immediately reject it,” said Hairul.
Clarifying jurisdictional roles, Hairul noted that while the MOH oversees smoking product licensing—covering manufacturing, packaging, advertising, distribution, and sales—the regulation of device hardware falls under the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), which manages SIRIM certification.
During the briefing, Hairul confirmed that Ispire Malaysia, a branch of U.S.-based Ispire Technology Inc., has not applied for any product registration. Though Ispire produces nicotine-containing devices for export from Malaysia, it is not currently eligible to sell these products domestically.
Recent regulatory activity has ramped up ahead of July’s nationwide retail display ban, which prohibits point-of-sale displays for cigarettes and vapes outside specialized stores—alongside a ban on online and vending machine sales—though a grace period remains in place until April 2025 for enforcement.
Malaysia’s approach is in line with global public health trends, and stakeholders noted MOH’s concerns about retail saturation and youth access following Act 852’s enforcement. Officials warn that poorly regulated outlets—especially in densely populated urban centers—could be shut down if violations continue.
Products found on the market without MOH registration after October 1 will be subject to legal seizure, bans on sale, and revocation of business permits. The MOH maintained that the measure is a key part of broader efforts to protect public health, reduce youth vaping rates, and bring Malaysia in line with regional tobacco control standards.
