Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh (left) says youths can still access tobacco products through the black market or family members, while Dr Khafidz Ishak warns that a completely prohibitive approach can backfire, like what happened in Bhutan.

PETALING JAYA:

A Generational End Game (GEG) bill without harm reduction options will see an increase in purchases of tobacco products from illicit markets, warn two health experts.

Malaysia Society for Harm Reduction (MSHR) president Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said the absence of harm reduction options would create an influx of illicit cigarettes, vapes or e-cigarettes from the black market.

“This is concerning because those who already have an addiction will go underground to get what they need,” she said at a scientific roundtable on Incorporating Harm Reduction Principles in the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill.

Sharifa said the GEG bill, which aims to prevent those born after 2007 from smoking, will not deter that generation from accessing tobacco products, vapes or e-cigarettes.

“How can we ensure they won’t have access? They may still be able to get these items from family members who smoke,” said the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia academic.

Yesterday, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the GEG bill will ensure that harm reduction methods would be unnecessary for those born after 2007.

“Why do we want to allow initiation for those who have not (started) smoking yet?” he had said. “We are cutting off the initiation (through the GEG bill).”

Sharifa maintained that the vape industry should be regulated and monitored so that smokers who found it difficult to quit had the option.

“Regulation is not solely the health ministry’s job but requires the cooperation of other ministries such as the domestic trade and consumer affairs as well as science, technology and innovation ministries,” she said.

Meanwhile, Insaf Murni Association Malaysia (IMAM) president Dr Khafidz Ishak said a completely prohibitive approach could backfire, as it did in Bhutan.

“When the government imposed a national ban on tobacco products (in Bhutan) with a high import tax in 2004, it allowed illicit trade to take place.

“In 2020, its prime minister said 22% of youths there were smoking tobacco,” he said, adding that incorporating harm reduction methods into the GEG bill can help control smoking and cessation efforts.

The GEG bill seeks to ban the use, possession and sale of cigarettes and vape products to those born after 2007.

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GEG without harm reduction will see black market boom, warn experts

Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh says the Generational End Game bill will not deter those born after 2007 from accessing tobacco products.