KUCHING: The Sarawak State Health Department has conducted inspections on 6,742 premises across the state since the enforcement of the Tobacco Control for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which began on Oct 1.
Director Dr. Veronica Lugah revealed five notices under Section 47 were issued, and 193 items were seized, with a total value of RM1,281.
“Out of these notices, five offences were recorded under Section 16(2) for smoking in prohibited areas. The inspected premises included specialty stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, eateries, and others,” she explained.
She said this at the launch of the Integrated Mega Operation under the Tobacco Control for Public Health Act, anti-sugar campaign, and state-level World Environmental Health Day celebration at the department’s multipurpose hall today.
Since the enforcement of the act, 7,653 advisories have also been issued to premises owners to raise awareness and encourage compliance with the law.
Lugah explained that this new act replaces the Tobacco Control Regulations 2004, which had been in effect since 2004. Act 852 includes provisions for the registration, sale, packaging, labelling, and prohibition of smoking in public spaces.
“The Act’s enforcement covers several immediate and phased measures. Immediate enforcement includes a ban on advertising tobacco products, sales of counterfeit tobacco products, selling tobacco products at educational institutions, markets, vending machines, and online platforms, prohibiting sales to minors, and designating smoke-free zones,” she said.
Meanwhile, phased enforcement under Act 852 includes tobacco product registration, which will begin on April 1, 2025. Packaging and labelling regulations will be implemented by Oct 1, 2025, and sales control, including display at sales counters, will come into effect by April 1.
Under Act 852, 28 smoking-prohibited locations have been gazetted, with laundromats and workplace buildings newly added to the list of designated smoke-free zones.
“I hope that enforcing this new Act will achieve its objective of protecting public health from the dangers of cigarettes and vapes.
“The Health Ministry’s gazettement of Act 852, which began on Feb 2, aligns with efforts to curb tobacco use and mitigate the harm caused by smoking and other tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes or vapes,” she added.
During the event, the Sarawak Health Department also launched an anti-sugar campaign and marked World Environmental Health Day.
