According to the National newspaper, World Health Organization representative Vandelaire said that Thailand should strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of e-cigarettes.
On December 18, Vandelaire gave a speech at the Thailand Health Promotion Foundation, praising the country’s decision to ban the use of e-cigarettes in the country.
However, as e-cigarettes remain common in Thailand, he believes the government must do a better job of enforcing the law.
Van der Leer dismissed claims by tobacco harm reduction campaigners that e-cigarettes are an effective smoking cessation tool. “Don’t be fooled, to date there is no evidence that the commercialization of e-cigarettes as a consumer product has a net benefit to public health.”
A recent study by the Ramathibodi Hospital School of Medicine showed that 8.8% of Thais aged 13 to 15 used e-cigarettes in 2021, up from 3.3% in 2015.
Van der Leer's comments follow a statement from the WHO urging action to prevent the use of e-cigarettes to combat nicotine addiction. On the same day, WHO released a technical note detailing the evidence and factors supporting its guidance.
