Malaysia updates anti-smoke legislation

Malaysia updates anti-smoke legislation. In the last few years, Malaysia is been getting tougher on tobacco products. In late 2018, new smoking bans came into play. Smoking at coffee shops and eateries was no longer an option. Certain islands in Malaysia were duty-free, but due to the smuggling of tobacco products, the Malaysian government put a stop to that. And the online sale of tobacco was suddenly prohibited. And now the Malaysian government is taking the next step.

Warning labels

Effective immediately, all tobacco products including premium handmade cigars are subject to new legislation. And that means big, ugly warning labels. Graphic full-color pictures of cancerous cells, amputated body parts, black and shriveled lungs. With that, Malaysia is following a lot of other countries that already have these full-color pictures on tobacco items. And the result of those pictures have proven to be zero, or close to zero for cigarette smokers. And zero for smokers of cigars and pipe tobacco.

With the new legislation, the top panel and ground panel of the boxes have to have graphic, full-color warning labels. These labels have to cover most of the box, although displaying a brand name is still legal. 

Temporary government

The reason why the Malaysian government is doing this is unclear. Due to a political crisis and a fall of the cabinet, it is only a temporary government. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, which is still rampant in Malaysia, it is not safe to hold new elections. As one anonymous cigar importer says to us “It makes no sense, in a year we have a new government. We have seen new governments turn back tobacco legislation in the past. A temporary government, not directly elected, should not implement regulation like this. But for now, we just have to comply”