Tourists warned of e-cigarette fines

The Excise Department has warned visitors to Thailand about the fines for bringing electronic cigarettes and related substances or equipment into the country for personal use or sale.

Department director-general Patchara Anuntasilpa said on Thursday the Commerce Ministry had enforced a ban on e-cigarettes due to health concerns raised by the Public Health Ministry.

Anyone possessing for personal use "cigalikes", which look like conventional cigarettes and can be used for a number of times, will be fined 6,800 baht per carton, the official said. Having them for sale will face higher charges of 12,000 baht per carton, he added.

The official did not mention the fine for vaporisers or "eGos", which have refillable liquid tanks, but the Customs Act says those arrested with e-cigarettes will be fined four times their prices and/or face a jail term up to 10 years.

The warning was issued after some Bangkok-based embassies had complained to the department about their tourists being fined for entering the country with e-cigarettes, according to Mr Patchara.

Over the past three months, the Excise Department seized 80 cases of e-cigarettes and related substances or equipment and imposed fines totalling 5 million baht.