Keep engaging Poisons Board in regulating nicotine gels, govt urged

The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has called on the health ministry to continue collaborating with the Poisons Board, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in overseeing the regulation of nicotine liquids and gels. The society welcomed the Malaysian government's decision to relinquish its appeal against a High Court ruling that deemed the exemption of liquid nicotine from the poisons list illegal.

The focus should now shift towards providing regulatory clarity and safeguarding Malaysians from nicotine addiction.

The withdrawal of the appeal enables the MPS to concentrate on the practical implications of the High Court decision. The society urges the health ministry to issue clear and prompt guidance concerning the regulatory status, sale, and supply of liquid and gel nicotine. This guidance should elucidate how the Poisons Act 1952 and the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 will function concurrently following this development.

Furthermore, the MPS advocates for ongoing interaction with the Poisons Board, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to ascertain the most suitable regulatory pathway. Amrahi Buang, the MPS president, emphasized that regulation should be accompanied by enhanced access to smoking and vaping cessation services. His primary concern lies in diminishing nicotine addiction among Malaysians.

This presents an opportunity to advance forward. The objective should not solely revolve around regulating a product but rather in reducing nicotine addiction.