Thailand to legalize e-cigarettes after election
Activists believe Thailand will legalize e-cigarettes after the general election likely to be held in May. According to ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST), the country currently bans e-cigarettes but is discussing ending the ban. Draft vaping legislatio
Activists believe Thailand will legalize e-cigarettes after the general election that may be held in May. According to ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST), e-cigarettes are currently banned in Thailand, but discussions are underway to end the ban.
“This effort has been years in the making. It has not stopped. In fact, draft legislation on e-cigarettes is waiting for debate and approval in the Thai parliament,” said ECST Director Asa Saligupta.
Saligupta pointed out that although anti-vaping campaigners appear to have the support of the public health minister, most politicians and members of the public still support lifting the country’s ban on e-cigarettes.
“I still firmly believe that safer nicotine products will be regulated in Thailand. Regulation will provide better protection for consumers, encourage more smokers to quit deadly cigarettes, and ensure that we can better control the legal age for youth purchases of e-cigarettes,” he said.
ECST said smoking causes about 50,000 deaths in Thailand each year.
“If we want to significantly reduce smoking-related disease and premature death, we must end Thailand’s harsh ban and penalties on e-cigarette products,” Saligupta said.
According to ECST, nearly 70 countries and regions have adopted regulatory frameworks for safer nicotine products, leading to a sharp decline in their overall smoking rates.
