Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1537288
Tobacco Asia 25 are banned. Interestingly, the minimum purchase age for vapes has been raised to 21, while it remains 18 for traditional cigarettes. Heated tobacco products (such as Philip Morris International's IQOS) are explicitly included under the tobacco law in Indonesia, too. Under the updated law, violations (selling to minors, unlicensed importation, etc.) carry fines and pos- sible imprisonment, although specific penalties are handled case by case by au- thorities. Indonesian officials emphasize public health: Health Ministry regula- tors have noted the need to curb youth use and questioned whether even tighter limits might be needed. By contrast, non nicotine e-liquids were not separately banned and continue to circulate, though the new rules require all e cig packaging to be labeled as tobacco products. The attack on vaping products, which have been proven to be less harm- ful than combustible cigarettes, is puzzling since traditional smoking remains endemic in Indonesia. WHO reports that about 34.5% of adults (mostly men) smoke, and nearly 1 in 5 children aged 13–15 are cur- rent smokers – so policymakers argue that regulated vaping offers an alterna- tive. Indonesian vape industry groups welcomed the 2023 law as giving them a legal framework, calling it a "licensing" of vaping products. Malaysia Vaping is legal in Malaysia, however the market is under tight controls. In 2022, the parliament passed the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852, effective October 1, 2024) covering e-cigarettes and heated tobacco along with cigarettes. Under the act, all vape devices (nicotine or not) are classified as "smoking products" and must display government health warnings. The government exempted nicotine liquids from the Poisons Act in March 2023 so they could be taxed and introduced an excise in April 2023 of US$0.40 cents per milliliter. Authorities have banned retail display of tobacco and vape products (no visible items on counters or in shops) and outlawed online or vending-machine sales. All vape and heated tobacco products must be registered, carry Indonesian-style graphic warnings (75% coverage) and fiscal stamps. Maximum nicotine content is Vaping is legal in Indonesia and Malaysia, but banned in Brunei. Credit: Ahmad Robin, Pexels.