KUALA LUMPUR: The law prohibiting the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking items or tobacco substitutes to those under 18 years old will come into force this year. It comes under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said will be enforced starting this year. Under the Act, which was gazetted on Feb 2, the provision of any services related to smoking to minors under 18 will also be banned. The minister said this is following the revisions to the International Health Regulations (IHR), which require World Health Organisation (WHO) members to create a national IHR authority. Dzulkefly said 194 member states of the WHO agreed to the amendments at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
