Thai Ministry of Education Implements Measures to Control E-Cigarettes

Key points:

1.The Thai Ministry of Education has issued an official announcement to control the spread of e-cigarettes in order to protect the health of students and adolescents.

2.The cabinet has approved multiple departments to collaborate in jointly formulating prevention and control measures for e-cigarettes.

3.Specific measures include raising awareness, clearly defining no-smoking zone signs, and monitoring violations.

According to a report from Pattayamail on March 14th, Thailand's Minister of Education, Permpoon Chidchob, has signed an official statement outlining measures to control the spread of e-cigarettes. The announcement aims to address the growing issue of e-cigarette use, particularly its impact on students and young people.

During the cabinet meeting on April 9, 2024, the cabinet approved a proposal put forward by the Prime Minister, which requires the Ministry of Public Health to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, as well as other relevant agencies, to establish measures to prevent e-cigarette exposure and use within all levels of educational institutions.

The specific measures announced in the notice include:

By various educational activities, media and training programs, increasing awareness among students, staff, teachers and education administrators about the dangers and legal consequences of using e-cigarettes; 

ensuring that educational institutions and workplaces clearly display no-smoking signs, including areas where e-cigarettes are prohibited; supervising and preventing any contact, use, sale, possession or endorsement of e-cigarettes by students, staff and educators at all levels of authority; 

disciplinary measures will be taken immediately upon receiving reports or suspicions regarding educators, teachers or administrators involved with e-cigarettes. 

The Ministry of Education emphasizes that leaders of government agencies and educational institutions, as well as supervisors at all levels, must strictly adhere to these measures to ensure a safe smoke-free environment in educational institutions throughout Thailand.