ID :
156172
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 16:41
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http://m.oananews.org//node/156172
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Thailand sets new standards for tobacco industry
BANGKOK, Jan 6 (TNA) - Thailand's Public Health Ministry is seeking a Cabinet approval of a revision to the Thai Tobacco Product Control Act for a lift of the minimum legal age for tobacco consumption or smoking, along with redefining other settings for the entire Thai tobacco industry.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said that his ministry's proposed changes to the legal framework include raising the minimum legal age of smokers in Thailand to 20 years old, from 18 years old, and redefining ‘tobacco products’ to include all goods carrying nicotine and 'tobacco trade’ to cover all merchandise activities related to tobacco, namely distribution and exchanges, as well as prohibiting tobacco advertisements covering marketing campaigns, exhibiting cigarette brands, types and manufacturers’ names and even introducing non-flammable tobacco insulations for the first time in accordance with a global practice.
Jurin revealed that the revision is mainly aimed to reduce smoking among Thai teenagers and youths to 10 per cent by 2014, from 20 per cent currently, saying that he expects the changes will take effect in May this year. The minister warned offenders who fail to comply with the revised law of fines or a possible jail-term of at least one-month, or both.
Regarding to the proposed non-flammable cigarette insulator, Dr Hatai Chitanondh, Chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Institute or Thai Health, said the new type of paper will automatically blot out the flames at a cigarette butt within two minutes of a non-smoking activity, from an existing 10-minute-period, which will ease second-hand smoking threats and prevent any fire from an unattended cigarette. (TNA)
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said that his ministry's proposed changes to the legal framework include raising the minimum legal age of smokers in Thailand to 20 years old, from 18 years old, and redefining ‘tobacco products’ to include all goods carrying nicotine and 'tobacco trade’ to cover all merchandise activities related to tobacco, namely distribution and exchanges, as well as prohibiting tobacco advertisements covering marketing campaigns, exhibiting cigarette brands, types and manufacturers’ names and even introducing non-flammable tobacco insulations for the first time in accordance with a global practice.
Jurin revealed that the revision is mainly aimed to reduce smoking among Thai teenagers and youths to 10 per cent by 2014, from 20 per cent currently, saying that he expects the changes will take effect in May this year. The minister warned offenders who fail to comply with the revised law of fines or a possible jail-term of at least one-month, or both.
Regarding to the proposed non-flammable cigarette insulator, Dr Hatai Chitanondh, Chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Institute or Thai Health, said the new type of paper will automatically blot out the flames at a cigarette butt within two minutes of a non-smoking activity, from an existing 10-minute-period, which will ease second-hand smoking threats and prevent any fire from an unattended cigarette. (TNA)
