The ministry said there will be two phases to the implementation of the new law to control the sale of smoking products from tomorrow, with varying grace periods for certain provisions.

It said the rules on the sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes or alternative products that would attract teenagers and children, such as those that look like toys, would be enforced from tomorrow to limit its accessibility to minors.

Also to be enforced immediately are sections that ban the sale of such products at educational institutions, online platforms and vending machines, and those that regulate the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of these products.

However, the ministry will employ “educational enforcement” for provisions on the registration and display of smoking products until March 31, while the grace period for regulations on packaging and labels will end on Sept 30 next year.

The ministry added the long-awaited Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 was gazetted on Feb 2, but enforcement had been delayed several times.

The law aims to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials and tobacco substitutes to minors, as well as to prohibit providing any smoking-related services to minors.

Health groups have repeatedly urged the government to enforce the law immediately, particularly after health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad’s predecessor, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, removed liquid nicotine from the poisons list in March last year which activists said allowed nicotine vape to be widely available to children.