Study on shisha, e-cigarettes to see if ban necessary
BernamaPublished: Jul 7, 2013 9:18 AM | Updated: Jul 7, 2013 1:35 PM
The Health Ministry is waiting for more scientific evidence before making a decision to ban or regulate shisha and e-cigarettes.
The Health Ministry is waiting for more scientific evidence before making a decision to ban or regulate shisha and e-cigarettes.
Minister Dr S Subramaniam (right) said a technical committee chaired by Institute of Respiratory Medicine director Dr Abdul Razak Muttalif would study the health effects caused by the two products before deciding on the next course of action.
"As far as shisha is concerned, evidence has shown that it is harmful, probably more harmful than cigarette smoking.
"So, our initial move is to classify sisha as tobacco-based product. All laws and regulations pertaining to tobacco use will probably apply to it (sisha)," he told the media after attending a convocation ceremony at the Tafe College in Seremban today.
Dr Subramaniam said, as for the e-cigarettes, there was a group which felt that smoking the product was less harmful than cigarettes, and it could be used as the intermediate tool in reducing cigarette smoking.
But there were also others who claimed that e-cigarettes might be abused and should be banned or regulated, he added.
"So, we will make a decision based on the evidence collected by this technical committee on wheter to regulate them (shisha and e-cigarettes) or totally ban them."
- Bernama
Minister Dr S Subramaniam (right) said a technical committee chaired by Institute of Respiratory Medicine director Dr Abdul Razak Muttalif would study the health effects caused by the two products before deciding on the next course of action."As far as shisha is concerned, evidence has shown that it is harmful, probably more harmful than cigarette smoking.
"So, our initial move is to classify sisha as tobacco-based product. All laws and regulations pertaining to tobacco use will probably apply to it (sisha)," he told the media after attending a convocation ceremony at the Tafe College in Seremban today.
Dr Subramaniam said, as for the e-cigarettes, there was a group which felt that smoking the product was less harmful than cigarettes, and it could be used as the intermediate tool in reducing cigarette smoking.
But there were also others who claimed that e-cigarettes might be abused and should be banned or regulated, he added.
"So, we will make a decision based on the evidence collected by this technical committee on wheter to regulate them (shisha and e-cigarettes) or totally ban them."
- Bernama
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