KUALA LUMPUR, 1 June 2023 – The Vape Consumer Association of Malaysia (VCAM) reiterates its call for proper regulations to be set in place for the Malaysian vape industry. VCAM’s call for regulation comes in the wake of a statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH) mentioning 38 cases of vaping-related illnesses have been reported in Malaysia since 2022, including 18 cases linked to Electronic Vape Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) and recent concerns about the prevalence of underage vaping due to the appeal of flavoured vapes.
Electronic Vape Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)
Electronic Vape Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) is a severe inflammatory lung illness that often requires hospitalisation with symptoms primarily affecting breathing and can also cause abdominal discomfort, fever, and chills. The exact cause of EVALI is still unknown, however, it can be the effect of wrongful use and abuse of e-cigarettes. Some studies have confirmed a link between vitamin E acetate and EVALI. Vitamin E acetate is a chemical that acts as a thickening agent and is sometimes added to e-cigarettes and vaping products to make the vapour thicker and more flavorful. However, vitamin E acetate is not safe to inhale as it can form harmful byproducts that can damage the lungs when heated.
Source: Renz Macorol (Pexels)
The first instance of Electronic Vape Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) was reported in the United States (US) in 2019. Lack of regulations allowed for the proliferation of e-cigarettes, including those containing harmful ingredients. This led to an outbreak of EVALI, which caused 68 deaths in the US as of February 2020. In the case of e-cigarettes, regulations are important because they can help to ensure that these products are safe and that they are not marketed to young people. The European Union (EU) has been a leader in regulating e-cigarettes. In 2014, the EU adopted the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which regulates several aspects of e-cigarettes. The directive has also been credited with helping to prevent the outbreak of Electronic Vape Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) in the EU.
Vape Flavours: A Misconception
There is a misconception that vape flavours are the reason why underage people start vaping. However, studies have shown that flavours are not the main reason why underage people start vaping. A study by the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) found that flavours were among the least commonly cited reasons why Vermont youth use e-cigarettes. The most commonly cited reasons were to get a buzz from nicotine (32%) or because they were feeling anxious and/or stressed (32%). Only 3% of students reported currently using e-cigarettes because they were available in flavours.
Source: Olena Bohovyk (Pexels)
The Vape Consumer Association of Malaysia (VCAM) firmly opposes any form of vape use by underage consumers, we believe that a ban on vape flavours can push people to pick up smoking again because they no longer have their preferred flavours to use as a replacement to smoking. A study in Nova Scotia found that 29% of vapers are at risk of switching back to cigarettes and that retailers have seen a sharp increase in cigarette sales since the pandemic began. The article cites the ban on flavoured vape products as a reason for the increase in cigarette sales.
The Vape Consumer Association of Malaysia (VCAM) is deeply concerned about the prevalence of underage vaping and the number of vaping-related illnesses in Malaysia. We believe that proper regulation of the vape industry would help to ensure that vape products are safe and can help curb the prevalence of Electronic Vape Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) in Malaysia while also preventing underage vaping. We urge the government to take action to regulate the vape industry to protect both consumers and the youth of Malaysia.
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Also read: MOH reveals that 43,019 secondary school students have been found smoking cigarettes
