Thai Public Health Min promotes awareness of new Tobacco Control Act

[webfact]

Public Health Min promotes awareness of new Tobacco Control Act

 

BANGKOK, 4 July 2017 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health is moving forward with the enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act 2017, targeting to safeguard youth and non-smokers against the dangers of tobacco. 

Together with Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, Secretary-General of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn chaired a press conference to reiterate the content of the Tobacco Control Act 2017, which will take effect from tomorrow onwards. 

The latest version of the law strictly prohibits sales of tobacco in temples, medical facilities, pharmacies, educational institutes, public parks, zoos and amusement parks. Relevant businesses must refrain from conducting CSR activities and must not sell cigarettes by individual pieces. The fine for smoking in no-smoking areas has also been increased to no more than 5,000 baht. 

According to statistics, smoking kills over 50,000 people in Thailand each year while the government has to spend tens of billions of baht to provide treatment for tobacco addicts. With marketing strategies for tobacco products growing even fiercer, the Tobacco Control Act 2017 was devised to prevent youth and other public members from taking up smoking and protect their health from cigarette smoke.

 

-- nnt 2017-07-04

 

[MisterTee]

No mention of the taxes on tobacco products being raised.

Last month I read somewhere that a tax hike was included in this package.

[webfact]

Stricter anti-tobacco laws introduced 
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The updated Tobacco Products Control Act 2017 came into effect on Tuesday with increased measures to protect non-smokers' rights and to try and prevent youths smoking.

 

Key measures in this law include a ban on selling tobacco products to people aged under 20, and a ban on people aged under 18 selling tobacco products. 

 

The measures also include a ban of selling tobacco products at religious sites, hospitals and pharmacies, all educational institutes, and public parks, zoos and amusement parks.

 

There is also a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and marketing, and on tobacco businesses conducting corporate social responsibility activities.

 

Sponsoring individuals or organisations to promote products is also outlawed, while businesses are not allowed to display products for sale and can’t sell loose cigarette.

 

Violators of a smoking ban in a public place face a fine of Bt5,000, while business owners must warn patrons not to smoke or face a fine of Bt3,000.

 

According to Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, up to 50,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses per year in Thailand.

 

He said the government spends up to Bt75 billion each year on treating such patients.

 

He expressed hope that the updated Act will reduce the number of young people smoking and better protect the rights of non-smokers, who outnumber smokers.

 

The move came after Thailand ratified the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319842

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-04

[ajarnmarc]

I saw signs posted yesterday on the Beaches in Samui, stating no smoking or face fines of 2,000 bht, 

which apparently has now been raised to 5,000 bht.

Guess the people posting these penalties on the tress surrounding the beach shoreline,

will have to update the signs, but it seems a bit over the top really.

 

It won't be long now, before people will be forced to only smoke in their homes, 

or face a fine when smoking outside; at any location...

[ratcatcher]

"Public Health Min promotes awareness of new Tobacco Control Act"

Meanwhile over at the Ministry of Finance battle plans are being drawn up.

Welcome to Thailand Tobacco Monopoly

A state enterprise under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance

Which just happens to be located on the most valuable piece of Land in Thailand.

 

                          

[Ricardo]

But no measures to encourage smokers to switch to vaping, instead ?

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, ratcatcher said:

"Public Health Min promotes awareness of new Tobacco Control Act"

Meanwhile over at the Ministry of Finance battle plans are being drawn up.

Welcome to Thailand Tobacco Monopoly

A state enterprise under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance

Which just happens to be located on the most valuable piece of Land in Thailand.

 

                          

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) moved from its current location in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district to a 220 rai (35.2 hectares) plot of land at Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya. The move to the new facility in Rojana Industrial Park will only be for TTM’s production arm at a cost of about THB15 billion.

 

 

[ratcatcher]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) moved from its current location in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district to a 220 rai (35.2 hectares) plot of land at Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya. The move to the new facility in Rojana Industrial Park will only be for TTM’s production arm at a cost of about THB15 billion.

 

 

Thank you for that update, I was unaware of that, although I'm sure it's public knowledge. Do you know the status of that huge block  of land between the end of Soi Nana Tai 4, Rama 4 and behind Sirikit Park? Must be worth billions of baht.

[anon7867763]

1 hour ago, Ricardo said:

But no measures to encourage smokers to switch to vaping, instead ?

The opposite . Today on Thai Airways flight TG 714 there was an announcement saying that you can´t bring digital cigarettes into the country !

How counter productive is that !!

[Ricardo]

47 minutes ago, johnsnapo said:

The opposite . Today on Thai Airways flight TG 714 there was an announcement saying that you can´t bring digital cigarettes into the country !

How counter productive is that !!

 

It does seem rather short-sighted  ...  change is going to happen  ...  better to plan for it and support it, than to try to deny it.

 

Particularly where it may affect public-health, the livelihoods of thousands of farmers & industry-workers, and the national-finances.

[blackcab]

1 hour ago, ratcatcher said:

Thank you for that update, I was unaware of that, although I'm sure it's public knowledge. Do you know the status of that huge block  of land between the end of Soi Nana Tai 4, Rama 4 and behind Sirikit Park? Must be worth billions of baht.

 

It's been turned into a public park.

[Srikcir]

8 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

 

It does seem rather short-sighted  ...  change is going to happen  ...  better to plan for it and support it, than to try to deny it.

 

Particularly where it may affect public-health, the livelihoods of thousands of farmers & industry-workers, and the national-finances.

Not short sighted - must protect the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly industry!

To encourage more Thai cigarette smoking last year it launched a new, cheaper brand of cigarettes to keep smokers from rolling their own or buying illegally imported untaxed ones due to higher prices from a recently imposed tax hike. http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-thai-tobacco-maker-plans-cheap-cigarettes-to-offset-new-tax-2016-2