According to foreign reports, the Thai government rejected a cabinet minister’s efforts to legalize and standardize nicotine e-cigarettes, but reconfirmed the country’s ban on the sale and import of e-cigarettes.
Thailand’s e-cigarette ban has been implemented since 2014 and has led to a well-known excessive enthusiasm for law enforcement.
According to Thailand’s national newspaper, the national tobacco product control commission maintained the ban at a meeting last week. Kiattiphum wongrajit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of public health, supported the decision, which will be submitted to the cabinet for formal approval.
The cabinet (or Council of Ministers) that controls the executive branch of the Thai government is unlikely to overthrow the Committee and the Minister of health.
According to the Thai national newspaper, the tobacco Commission said that Thailand, as a signatory of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on tobacco control (FCTC), should maintain the ban to prevent cigarette addiction among children and adolescents.
FCTC does not require Member States to ban e-cigarette products, but generally supports prohibition and strict regulation.
The state tobacco administration of Thailand controls the production and sale of tobacco in this Southeast Asian country. Many countries with government-owned tobacco industries have passed restrictions or bans on e-cigarettes, which compete with state sponsored cigarette sales that generate important taxes.
Chaiwut thanakamanausorn, Minister of digital economy and society, urged the government to end the ban on e-cigarettes, which he believed provided a low-risk option for smokers.
The cabinet ministers’ position sparked panicky opposition from tobacco control and public health organizations, most of which strictly followed the recommendations of tobacco control organizations that urged a ban funded by who and Bloomberg charitable foundation.
Just in January, thanakamanusorn planned to set up a working group to study the issue and consider public opinion. It is unclear whether the minister will now continue his campaign to legalize e e-cigarettes.
Despite the strict law enforcement, the black market of electronic products in Thailand is booming. The country also has competent e-cigarette advocates in the consumer group ECST.
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