The Public Health Ministry says it is revamping a 22-year-old tobacco control law to make it more comprehensive so that it covers electronic cigarettes and baraku (shisha) and catch up with marketing strategies of transnational tobacco companies.
The key provisions of the amendment bill will seek to increase the minimum legal age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 20 and introduce new regulations to control e-cigarettes and e-baraku (sometimes called e-shisha), Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin revealed on Thursday.
The bill will provide a broader definition of marketing communications to ensure stricter controls on sales promotions, point-of-sale advertising of prices, hiring of product presenters (or "pretties"), building of brand image and online advertising, as well as prohibiting vendors from selling loose cigarettes to buyers.
Dr Rajata said the revamped Tobacco Products Control Act, which has been in force since 1992, will conform more to the requirements of the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which Thailand is a member.
He confirmed the proposed bill will not create obstacles to international trade or violate restrictions of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) agreements.
The ministry has proposed the draft amendment bill to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and will soon table it for cabinet approval, he said.
Statistics show only three out of 10 youth smokers are able to stop smoking, but not after 20 years of age. About 100,000 young thais become smokers each year, Dr Rajata said, and it was hoped the amendment bill will help to reduce that number.