Online vape sales in Malaysia thrive despite ban

PETALING JAYA - The law in Malaysia bans the sale of vape-related products online, yet they remain widely available through Internet search engines.

Almost a year after the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852) came into force, effectively banning the sale of vapes and e-liquids, purchasing these items remains just a few clicks away.

While these products are no longer found on e-commerce platforms when the term “vape” is searched, keying in the name of specific brands reveals that these items are still being sold.

On Internet search engines, sales are even more rampant.

A simple search will bring up at least eight results on the first three pages, all leading to individual online vape stores.

The only age verification process is on the landing page, where users are required to state if they are over 18.

Users can easily bypass this by selecting “yes” and can then freely browse and purchase products, as there is no further verification.

There is also no requirement to verify one’s age when making a purchase.

Purchasing is straightforward and can be done through e-wallet and card payments.

A quick search on Internet search engines also leads to multiple public groups on social media openly advertising vape devices and e-liquids.

In these groups, photos, prices and product descriptions fill the media tab, creating a bustling online marketplace accessible to anyone.

Here, buyers can contact the group admin, provide their details and make payment.

The product will then be delivered to the buyer’s preferred address.

“There is an extreme lack of enforcement for vape sales online. There seems to be no serious efforts in tackling this,” said anti-smoking activist NV Subbarow.

The Consumers Association of Penang senior education officer said the lack of a detailed age verification required raises concerns, noting that anyone could just lie about being over 18.

“Some students even get these items from middlemen, who buy the devices online.”

He reiterated the need for a total ban on vapes, urging for heavy penalties against lawbreakers.

“We can have hundreds of pages on regulations, but if there is no enforcement, it will all be wasted,” he said.

Act 852 was enforced in phases from Oct 1, 2024.

The first phase, which was enforced with immediate effect, covers regulations including the prohibition of smoking products from being sold in educational institutions, online platforms, markets and vending machines.

The second phase of enforcement, which includes a display ban on smoking products, was revised to Oct 1, 2025.

Under Regulation 6, the display ban at counters was scheduled to come into effect on April 1, 2025, involving some 51,000 retailers.

Phase three, meanwhile, regulates how smoking products are packaged. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK