Thailand's Parliament Is Reviewing Legislation That Could Repeal The Ban And Legalize Vaping This Year
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Thailand's parliament is reviewing legislation that could repeal the ban and legalize vaping this year
In terms of tobacco harm reduction, Asia, as the region with the highest smoking rate, is seeking changes with practical actions, and is taking an increasingly positive attitude towards tobacco harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes. Just after the Philippines changed its attitude and implemented legislation and supervision on e-cigarettes, there was also news from Thailand that it was preparing to join the ranks of legalizing e-cigarettes.
Thailand has banned the import, export, sale and possession of e-cigarette products since November 2014. Despite strong opposition from local health experts and anti-smoking groups, anyone who breaks the rules will have their products confiscated and fined or jailed for up to 10 years.
Until December last year, Congressman Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn told the Bangkok Post that avenues were being explored to legalize the sale of e-cigarettes, which he believed to be a safer option for those struggling to quit smoking. . There will be greater gains for both local tobacco growers and the Thai Tobacco Authority if the tobacco industry is transformed to more sustainable alternatives.
In January, Chaiwut reiterated his stance at a ministry campaign rally that the legalization of vaping would allow Thailand to benefit from tax revenue and provide a safer smoking cessation option. Chaiwut is preparing to form a working group to find ways to legalize e-cigarettes to help smokers switch to safer alternatives.
But Thailand's health ministry advised against lifting the ban. Ministry of Health Perm-Sec Kiattipoom Wongrachit told a recent meeting of the Government Tobacco Council: "Continuing to ban all types of e-cigarettes will 'help protect non-smokers from health hazards'. Banning the sale of e-cigarettes is the key to protecting children from harm." important measures."
Is it a familiar formula and a familiar taste? Sure enough, the "bear child" is a basket that can hold anything.
Thankfully, however, a draft legislation to legalize e-cigarettes is currently under consideration in a subcommittee of the Thai parliament, according to a related working report. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn joined other health officials in expressing support for the measure again. Chaiwut believes the public should have unbiased information about safer alternatives and, more importantly, educate young people that these products are not suitable for them.
The Manila Bulletin also reported that Thailand may follow the lead of the Philippines in enacting a law to regulate e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other safer alternatives.
"We expect more Southeast Asian countries to follow the lead of the Philippines and Thailand in welcoming tobacco harm reduction as the most effective public health strategy to address smoking," said Clarice Vagino, Philippine representative to the Asia-Pacific Tobacco Harm Alliance (CAPHRA).
Asa Saligupta, director of ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST), said: "A sensible health minister would not accept the dire situation with tobacco in Thailand. Smoking continues to kill around 50,000 Thais every year, and too many smokers are trapped by cigarettes, or Forced into a black market in vaping, which controls neither the age of purchase nor the safety standards of the products. An effective public health minister would not accept this dire situation, let alone support the problems triggered by the vaping ban. It’s confusing.” Asa believes that the Thai parliament will pass the e-cigarette bill within this year.
Finally, I hope that, as predicted by Asa, the legalization of e-cigarettes in Thailand will be introduced as soon as possible, and more lives will be saved one day earlier. It is believed that as more and more countries begin to change their awareness and replace bans with regulations, tobacco harm reduction in Asia will also achieve greater results.
