PUTRAJAYA, Jan 17 — The planting of ketum will soon require the approval of the Health Ministry, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, today.

She said the Poisons Act 1952 will be amended to insert the planting of ketum without permission as an offence.

"Currently the planting of ketum is allowed but it is an offence to harvest and sell the plant.

"We will be amending this act and include planting of ketum without permission as an offence as well,” she told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet Committee on the Eradication of Drugs at the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) meeting, adding that approval is required from the Health Ministry.

Ketum is regulated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, due to the mitragynine substance present in the plant.

Dr Wan Azizah said Section 30 of the Act controls the import, export, manufacturing, selling and other activities related to psychotropic substances.

She also said the Cabinet committee has agreed to a new law to curb the use of hallucinogenic substances, such as glue sniffing which has become a widespread problem among children.

"There are harmful side effects from sniffing glue, and this can be detected when one undergoes a CT scan or MRI of the brain, which are affecting young people as young as 10-years-old,” she said.

She said the new Bill will strengthen the regulation of substances that are not considered illegal, but can cause intoxication, such as aerosol sprays.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, who was also present at the press conference, said the Bill is currently being drafted and will be tabled in Parliament in the March sitting.