Five political parties have promised the public they will not support the legalisation of e-cigarettes if they are selected to join the cabinet after the next general election.
The standpoint was announced by representatives of the five parties who attended a seminar on e-cigarette policies at the Medical Association of Thailand yesterday.
Paiboon Nititawan, deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), said the party would continue to keep the import and sale of e-cigarettes illegal if any of its members are in the cabinet after the next election.
Dr Tianchai Suwanpen, a consultant for the Democrat Party, suggested it improve its knowledge regarding e-cigarettes.
As a physician, Dr Tianchai said the country is now fighting an "information war" between medical workers and e-cigarette manufacturers.
Udomsak Srisutiwa, deputy secretary of the Chartthaipattana Party, said the party would focus on taking strong legal action against e-cigarettes, as the party wants to prevent youths from vaping.
Sriyada Phalimapan, deputy secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, said if party members were selected to join the cabinet, they would bring all related sectors to work on preventing the sale and use of e-cigarettes.
She added that a lack of social cooperation makes it hard to enforce controls on e-cigarettes, even though the policy was enacted in 2014.
The Thai Liberal Party's spokesman, Phariyet Angkoolkitti, said his party would focus on tackling the bribes paid to the police by purveyors of vaping devices, among other issues.
At the same event, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his ministry would issue a notification about the e-cigarette ban before the cabinet is dissolved next month.
He said the spread of vapes, particularly among youngsters aged 15 to 24, is concerning due to false information claiming they were safer than regular cigarettes. He rejected any notion of legalising e-cigarettes and said no one in the cabinet would approve such an idea.
Separately, more than 72-million-baht worth of e-cigarettes and related equipment seized by the Department of Customs will be destroyed tomorrow, according to the department's deputy director, Panthong Loikulnant. He added e-cigarette raids could result in charges against shops and warehouses.