KJ clarifies vape tax issue

SHAH ALAM - Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin says although the previous government administration had intended to impose tax on vape liquid products, it did not exclude it from the schedule of the Poisons Act 1952.

He explained that it was because a new Act needed to be enacted first to ensure that any risks arising from it could be overcome if the exception was made.

"If there is no new Act in place, there will be a loophole in the law because vaping could not be controlled at all.

"That is why we brought the Smoking Control Bill. But it was not approved. With the legislation, nicotine products in it can be excluded because there is a law to control it," he said in a tweet, yesterday.

The government on the same day gazetted an excise duty on vape liquids with nicotine content at a rate of 40 sen per mililitre (ml) in an effort to tax liquid or gel products containing nicotine.

The matter was stated through a notice issued on Friday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said a new bill to regulate cigarette products and devices will be introduced in the next parliamentary sitting.

She said the bill included provisions that ensured comprehensive control over nicotine in liquids and gels used in e-cigarettes and vapes.

She said this following criticisms over the exclusion of nicotine gel, liquid from the controlled substances list under the Poisons Act.