Head Of Thailand's Anti-smoking Organization: Vietnam's E-cigarette Ban Will Undermine Tobacco Harm Reduction in Southeast Asia, Calling For Regulation Instead Of Ban

Head of Thailand's anti-smoking organization: Vietnam's e-cigarette ban will undermine tobacco harm reduction in Southeast Asia, calling for regulation instead of ban

Vietnam plans to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025, and the head of Thailand's anti-smoking organization warned that this would lead to a flood of black markets and increased cigarette consumption, calling on Vietnam to regulate rather than ban these devices outright.

According to Manilastandard on January 8, tobacco harm reduction experts warned that Vietnam's plan to ban e-cigarettes could deprive smokers of access to better alternatives and keep them smoking.

Asa Saligupta, head of the Anti-Smoking Organization of Thailand (ECST), said Vietnam's e-cigarette ban goes against the global trend of regulating e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products and is a "dangerous move" that could undermine the harm reduction effect of tobacco in Southeast Asia.

"The ban on e-cigarettes will only push users to the black market, which is beyond the control of regulators over product quality and standards. Worse, it will induce e-cigarette users to return to cigarettes, which are the most dangerous way to consume nicotine."

Saligupta suggested that Vietnam should follow the Philippines' approach and regulate e-cigarettes and other smoke-free products to provide smokers with better alternatives and ensure that these products are not used by minors.

Public health experts say smoke-free products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and oral nicotine have helped millions of smokers quit in countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan and Sweden, where smoking rates have fallen rapidly.

Anton Israel, president of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP), noted that "a ban will only drive these smoke-free products underground, causing government revenue loss and depriving smokers of better options."

Dr. Lorenzo Mata Jr., president of Quit For Good, said the key is to regulate nicotine products and impose age restrictions to prevent underage use.

Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine Electronic Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA), said criminalizing the use of technology to reduce the harm of smoking would hinder harm reduction and research and development.

Prof. David Sweanor, a Canadian public health law expert, believes that banning e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other smoke-free devices is contrary to public health policy.

The Vietnamese National Assembly passed a resolution in early December 2024, planning to ban the production, trade, import, storage, transportation and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other related substances from 2025.