Malaysian Health Ministry aims to ban e-cigarettes by mid-2026

Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad announced on Thursday, September 25, 2025, that the country plans to implement a nationwide ban on vaping by mid-2026.[1]This measure would affect both the sale and use of vaping products.

Between gradual ban and incentive to stop vaping

According to the minister, the process will follow a phased approach, with a timetable that will be subject to the government's decision. “The question is no longer if we will ban vaping, but when " he said at the press conference following the launch of the National Blueprint for Behavioral Health Insights (NBBI).

A committee of experts has submitted its recommendations to the ministry, which will present them to Cabinet when it submits a memorandum. The minister had already announced in July that the government was considering revisiting the issue, believing that banning vaping without controlling its availability would be an ineffective measure.

The minister also stressed the importance of behavioral insights – science-based “incentives” that encourage healthier choices – to support the ban.[2]. " The law has its limits " he said. Behavioral insights can help smokers and vapers choose to quit on their own, without relying solely on law enforcement. This is essential to ensuring long-term success. ".

The minister added that expert committees were considering the best methods to help current users quit vaping even before legal restrictions come into force.

The Malaysian Medical Association, for its part, found the government's decision to postpone the ban on e-cigarettes until next year regrettable, saying the delay would promote addiction among young people, lung damage and the misuse of e-liquids.[3].

Its president, Dr. R Thirunavukarasu, said that " public health cannot wait " and that the time has come to ban vaping altogether, citing aggressive marketing and flavored products that attract increasingly younger consumers. He revealed that fentanyl, a drug with opioid painkillers, has been found in e-cigarettes, and called on the government to act responsibly and urgently, saying public health must come before industrial interests or tax revenue.

A ban planned in several stages, like in neighboring countries

According to Dzulkefly Ahmad, the action plan calls for a phased ban. It would begin with open-system vaping devices (which allow vapers to manually refill the device with any liquid or substance, unlike closed systems that use pre-filled cartridges) before gradually expanding to all products. These refillable devices are being targeted first to limit the risk of abuse and ensure that vaping devices and liquids meet strict safety standards.

The minister also recalled that six states, namely Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah and Pahang, had already taken steps in this regard by refusing to issue or renew licenses to sell vaping products.

Earlier this year, Dzulkefly said that the country was ready to reconsider the ban on e-cigarettes, considered as early as 2015. Dzulkefly said at the time that despite his predecessors' plans to ban vaping at that time, Malaysia had missed the boat on adopting full restrictions like Singapore, Thailand and Brunei[4].

Neighboring country Singapore also has strengthened the crackdown on vaping, with increased controls at air, land, and sea checkpoints across the country, as well as in various parts of the island. Vaping is sometimes combined with substances like etomidate, prompting the government to link vaping to the illegal drug problem.

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[1]Bhavya Rawat, Malaysia aims to ban vapes nationwide by mid-2026, says Health Minister, AsiaOne, published September 25, 2025, accessed September 26, 2025

[2]Kirtinee Ramesh, Malaysia targets full vape ban by 2026, says Health Minister, The Sun, published September 25, 2025, accessed September 26, 2025

[3]Free Malaysia Today, Unacceptable, MMA says on decision to defer vape ban, published on September 26, 2025, consulted the same day

[4]Channel News Asia, 'No longer if, but when': Malaysia targets nationwide vape ban by mid-2026, says health minister, published September 25, 2025, accessed September 26, 2025

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