Johor Maintains Ban on Vape Sale Despite Federal Taxation

Johor state government says it will continue to enforce the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes or vape in the state, which has been in place since 2016.

Johor state government says it will continue to enforce the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes or vape in the state, which has been in place since 2016. The state’s Health and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said that the ban was maintained despite the federal government’s decision to impose excise taxes on nicotine liquids and gel used in e-cigarettes and vaping devices from April 1, 2023.

Ling said that action would be taken against business premises caught selling vape products, including online platforms. He said that the ban was based on the health and safety concerns of the public, especially the youth, who might be exposed to the harmful effects of vaping. He said that the state government was also following the order of the Sultan of Johor, who had instructed the ban on vape products in the state in 2015.

Ling said that the state government respected the federal government’s decision to tax vape products, but it did not change the state’s stance on the issue. He said that the state government was not against the development of the vape industry, but it was more concerned about the welfare of the people. He said that the state government would continue to monitor the situation and review the ban if necessary.

The ban on vape sale in Johor has been controversial and challenged by various parties, including vape traders and consumers

The ban on vape sale in Johor has been controversial and challenged by various parties, including vape traders and consumers. The ban, which was announced by the then Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin in 2015, was based on the order of the Sultan of Johor, who had expressed his displeasure over the vape trend and its negative impact on the society.

The ban was officially implemented in January 2016, and it covered all sale of vape products, including equipment and liquids, in the state. The ban was enforced by the state Health Department, the local authorities, and the police, who conducted raids and inspections on vape outlets and confiscated vape products. The offenders were issued with compounds or brought to court.

The ban was met with resistance and criticism from the vape traders and consumers, who claimed that the ban was unfair, unreasonable, and detrimental to their livelihood and rights. They argued that vaping was a safer alternative to smoking, and that it helped smokers to quit or reduce their tobacco consumption. They also argued that vaping was a booming industry that contributed to the economy and generated employment.

The vape traders and consumers also challenged the legality and validity of the ban, and filed several lawsuits against the state government and the authorities. They claimed that the ban was unconstitutional, as it violated their fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the right to trade, the right to property, and the right to equality. They also claimed that the ban was inconsistent with the federal laws and policies, such as the Customs Act 1967, the Poisons Act 1952, and the National Tobacco Control Policy 2015.

However, the lawsuits were dismissed by the courts, which upheld the ban and ruled that it was lawful and valid. The courts said that the ban was within the state government’s power and discretion, and that it was justified by the public interest and the royal decree. The courts also said that the ban did not infringe the rights and freedoms of the vape traders and consumers, as they were not absolute and could be restricted by the law.

The federal government has decided to tax vape products from April 1, 2023, as part of its efforts to regulate and control the vape industry in the country

The federal government has decided to tax vape products from April 1, 2023, as part of its efforts to regulate and control the vape industry in the country. The government has imposed excise taxes on nicotine liquids and gel used in e-cigarettes and vaping devices, at the rate of 40 sen per millilitre. The government has also imposed import duties on vape products, at the rate of 5% ad valorem.

The government said that the taxation of vape products was aimed at protecting the health and safety of the public, especially the youth, who might be influenced by the vape culture and the marketing strategies of the vape industry. The government said that the taxation of vape products was also aimed at generating revenue for the government, and at creating a level playing field for the tobacco industry, which was subject to high taxes and regulations.

The government said that the taxation of vape products was in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which had urged the countries to adopt fiscal and regulatory measures to curb the use and proliferation of vape products. The government also said that the taxation of vape products was in line with the practices of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Thailand, which had imposed taxes on vape products.

The government said that the taxation of vape products was a first step towards the regulation and control of the vape industry in the country, and that it would be followed by other measures, such as the licensing and registration of vape products, the enforcement of quality and safety standards, and the restriction of advertising and promotion of vape products.

Conclusion

Johor state government says it will continue to enforce the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes or vape in the state, which has been in place since 2016. The ban was maintained despite the federal government’s decision to impose excise taxes on nicotine liquids and gel used in e-cigarettes and vaping devices from April 1, 2023. The ban on vape sale in Johor has been controversial and challenged by various parties, including vape traders and consumers. The federal government has decided to tax vape products from April 1, 2023, as part of its efforts to regulate and control the vape industry in the country.