Mr. Niyom Wierathandithakul, Phrae MP of the Party for Thailand & the chairperson of the Special Parliamentary Committee tasked with studying laws and measures to control e-cigarettes in the country, proposed three approaches:1). Continue the ban on e-cigarettes and toughen existing laws, 2). Regulate heated tobacco products (HTPs) while maintaining the e-cigarette ban, 3). Regulate both e-cigarettes and HTPs.
The committee, consisting of 35 members from various state agencies, civil organizations, relevant offices, and individuals with e-cigarette experience, aims to address the issue of e-cigarettes. The committee has invited experts and examined multi-facet impacts, including on health, society, children and youth, the economy and law enforcement.
The committee in Thailand prioritizes protecting children and youth over addressing the longstanding societal issue of e-cigarettes, recognizing that these efforts are for national interest and are aimed at addressing the situation in Thailand. Niyom highlighted Thailand’s widespread use of e-cigarettes, despite their current illegal status. To address this, the committee has formed two sub-groups: one for regulatory measures consideration and another for report preparation, considering Thailand’s unique circumstances and context. The committee’s approach will be independent and based on Thailand’s specific context. Once the study is finalized, the results will be presented to the House of Representatives for further decision by the executive branch or the government on their chosen approach.
