Vape group urges legal clarity after High Court ruling on liquid nicotine

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — The Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entity (MOVE) is urging the government to establish legal clarity following a High Court ruling that removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Representing over 55,000 members, MOVE claims the lack of appeal from the government has created uncertainty that may drive consumers to an unregulated vaping market.

MOVE president Samsul K. Arrifin stressed the need for the government to align the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 with the Poisons Act to create a clear and consistent regulatory framework. MOVE is concerned that a prohibition-driven approach could undermine consumer protection safeguards and push demand towards an unregulated market.

Registered retailers could face age verification, SOPs, and enforcement oversight, unlike illicit sellers. MOVE warned that an unregulated market could increase risks such as unknown ingredients, tampered liquids, and challenges in enforcing product standards, traceability, and tax collection. MOVE advocates for maintaining Act 852 as the regulatory blueprint and calls for immediate legal clarity, regulatory oversight, and enforcement of strict requirements in product safety, traceability, ingredient transparency, and age verification for compliant retailers.