In a groundbreaking development, Thailand’s Parliament has acknowledged the comprehensive report from the Ad Hoc Committee on E-Cigarettes—a decisive move that may soon shift the country’s decades-long ban toward a framework of legal, well-regulated e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
The committee, composed of 35 members, presented a detailed report outlining three policy options: maintain the current ban, legalize and regulate only HTPs, or legalize and regulate both e-cigarettes and HTPs. An overwhelming 26 members voiced support for the latter two options, signaling a clear preference for replacing prohibition with sensible regulation.
“This report is a crucial step toward policy reform in addressing e-cigarette issues in Thailand,” said Sarit Sitthiserichon, owner of the “Manudkwan” Facebook page and representative of the e-cigarette users’ network. “Despite a ban that’s been in place for over a decade, e-cigarette usage has skyrocketed—tenfold in just two years—and the illicit market is expanding. It’s clear that the old approach isn’t working. Thailand is finally moving in the right direction, much like New Zealand and Norway, which learned that a regulated market is far superior to an outright ban.”
The committee’s extensive review weighed public health concerns, youth protection, and the economic implications of the burgeoning unregulated market. Despite facing pressure from NGOs intent on preserving the status quo, the committee remained committed to a fact-based, forward-looking approach that prioritizes real solutions over fear-based rhetoric.
Now set to be forwarded to the Cabinet for further deliberation, the report could herald a new era in Thai tobacco control policy—one that aligns with global trends and embraces a pragmatic, regulated approach. Advocates see this as not just a win for public health but also a signal that even the most entrenched policies can evolve when confronted with clear evidence and genuine dialogue.
