Thailand Urged to Reconsider Legalizing E-Cigarettes

Recently, according to a report from Thailand's media outlet thethaiger, the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) praised the efforts of the UK in preventing minors from accessing electronic cigarettes and urged the Thai government to reconsider the legalization of e-cigarettes.

Praise for the UK Government's Electronic Cigarette Regulation Measures.

The European Commission on Wednesday praised the efforts made by the UK to prevent minors from using electronic cigarettes, which includes providing free e-cigarette kits, and a dedicated enforcement team called the "Illegal E-Cigarette" unit that monitors and combats the sale of e-cigarettes to underage individuals.

In contrast, Thailand still regards the sale and use of electronic cigarettes as illegal, leading to unregulated black markets and an increase in opportunities for underage use.

Therefore, ECST hopes that the Thai government will reconsider the legalization of e-cigarettes and take action in the elections on May 14, 2023.

Maris Karanyawat, another representative of ECST, suggested that adopting the UK as a model could be the solution to Thailand's current e-cigarette policy issues.

Hopes to revise the e-cigarette ban after the general election.

Many supporters of legalizing e-cigarettes hope that Thailand's new government will take new actions after the 2023 election to learn from international experience and scientific evidence. From a scientific standpoint, this would help to reduce the negative impact on smokers and protect minors from harm caused by e-cigarette products.

Earlier, the Public Health Law Implementation Committee released a report recommending that Thailand should lift its ban on electronic cigarettes based on a combination of real-life situations and comprehensive suggestions.

In November 2023, Panama will host the 10th Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Mari hopes that the Thai government will take concrete action to consider the harm reduction potential of electronic cigarettes.

Marsis expressed that:

We hope that representatives in Thailand will take into consideration the Public Health Committee's report, which provides evidence that the regulation of e-cigarettes should be approached differently than combustible cigarettes for public health reasons.

Further reading:

Thailand may legalize e-cigarettes after this year's election, but a consensus on banning them remains difficult to achieve.

Five political parties in Thailand have pledged not to support the legalization of e-cigarettes.

Director of Thailand's Smoke-Free Organisation (ECST) expresses confidence in legalising e-cigarettes in Thailand.

The electronic cigarette issue becomes a focal point in Thailand's general election as anti-smoking organizations urge the government to maintain the ban on electronic cigarettes.

References:

Thailand is contemplating the possibility of offering complimentary e-cigarettes, inspired by England's approach.