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Starting 1 April, retailers and eateries in selected states will fully enforce the ban on displaying tobacco and vape products
The ban is part of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which prohibits the display of tobacco products at points of sale.
The Act, gazetted in February 2024, came into effect on 1 October 2024, and enforcement was carried out in phases to provide grace periods for businesses to adapt, reported Malay Mail.
Starting next month, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak, and Selangor will begin enforcing the regulation.
According to Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Penang Health Committee Chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, and Perak Health Committee Chairman A Sivanesan, health departments in their respective areas will commence enforcement as soon as the grace period concludes, reported The Star.
"[If found guilty,] individuals can be fined from RM500 up to RM30,000, while organisations may be slapped with up to RM300,000 in fines, or jailed," Gooi said.
The ban does not apply to specialty stores selling tobacco and vape products, but these premises must not be visible from the outside
The Act also designates various locations, including entertainment centres, hospitals, clinics, public toilets, and air-conditioned shops, as non-smoking zones, reported the New Straits Times.
Under the Act, proprietors of non-smoking areas must display a clear warning sign against smoking.
