Thai Government Approves Five Vaping Control Measures Targeting Online Sales and Media Promotion

Key points:

1.The Thai Cabinet has approved five measures proposed by the National Health Committee aimed at preventing teenagers from being tempted by e-cigarettes.

2.These measures include conducting anti-smoking education in schools and carrying out various publicity campaigns to raise public awareness of the risks of e-cigarettes.

3.The government will introduce new regulations to regulate media advertising to eliminate the promotion of e-cigarettes and enhance law enforcement supervision.

According to a report from Asia News Network on May 21, the Thai government has approved five measures proposed by the National Health Commission aimed at protecting young people from the temptation of e-cigarettes. Government Deputy Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan stated that the Cabinet has approved the core resolution of the National Health Conference, endorsing the five measures proposed by the National Health Commission to protect young people.

The first measure is to strengthen the awareness of the harm of e-cigarettes among adolescents. To implement this measure, schools will be designated as e-cigarette-free zones, and students will be required to be educated about the dangers of e-cigarettes, as well as organize activities to raise awareness.

The second measure is to raise public awareness, especially among young people, about the dangers of e-cigarettes. This will involve conducting promotional activities to highlight the risks of using e-cigarettes and developing related public relations media to support these efforts.

The third measure involves monitoring and enforcing laws regarding e-cigarettes. The government will introduce new legal measures and regulations to supervise broadcast media and prevent the promotion of e-cigarettes. Guidelines will be issued to television programs and film producers to avoid advertising e-cigarettes. Relevant departments must investigate the market supply of e-cigarettes at least every two years.

The fourth measure is to crack down on the online sales of e-cigarettes. For example, logistics companies will be warned that transporting e-cigarettes is illegal to prevent online sales. Local administrative departments will also be required to launch publicity campaigns to keep children away from e-cigarettes.

Finally, the fifth measure is to ensure that policies and measures restrict the sale and abuse of e-cigarettes. Government agencies must follow relevant policies and measures based on the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Children's Protection Act.

A government spokesperson stated that relevant government agencies will be instructed to enforce the measures.