Thai Minister of Health: Joint efforts by multiple agencies to combat illegal e-cigarettes and close 309 online e-cigarette sales accounts
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Thai Minister of Health: Joint efforts by multiple agencies to combat illegal e-cigarettes and close 309 online e-cigarette sales accounts
The Thai Minister of Public Health approved the appointment of Chanchao Chaiyanukij, former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, to lead a working group to strengthen the fight against e-cigarettes in conjunction with relevant agencies, and to coordinate with the Internet police to close 309 online sales accounts.
According to MCOT. News on July 17, Thai Minister of Public Health Somchai Tepsutin approved the appointment of former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice Chanchao Chaiyanukij to lead the joint efforts of relevant agencies to strengthen measures to combat e-cigarettes.
Including prohibiting the carrying and smoking of e-cigarettes in government places and airports, and accelerating the coordination of Internet police to close 309 online sales accounts, and continuing related publicity.
On July 17, Minister of Public Health Somchai announced after the Ministry of Health meeting that the meeting unanimously agreed to set up a working group, chaired by former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice Chanchao Chaiyanukij, to work with relevant experts and representatives of the Consumer Protection Office to jointly promote the formulation and implementation of policies to combat e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are illegal products in Thailand. It is prohibited to buy, import, possess and provide services. Violators will be sanctioned by at least four laws, including the Customs Act and the Import and Export Act of 2017, with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
"Although e-cigarettes are clearly illegal, there is a deviation in the public's perception of them, and the enforcement of existing laws is insufficient. The meeting decided to strengthen cooperation with relevant departments, strictly ban smoking in government places, transportation stations and schools, and coordinate with the Internet police to crack down on online sales."
He also mentioned that he agreed that the agencies with the power to enforce the law should prepare a memorandum of cooperation or establish a joint working group to promote law enforcement. In addition, it was agreed to request cooperation from the Internet Police Headquarters to crack down on e-cigarette advertising and online sales. The merchant monitoring system found that 309 online sales accounts had been found in 23 provinces and cities across the country, which would be closed.
