Thailand urged to step up e-cigarette monitoring and enforcement

Thailand urged to step up e-cigarette monitoring and enforcement

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.
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