Tag: cambodia

  • Cambodia Wants Crackdown on Online Vape Promos

    Cambodia Wants Crackdown on Online Vape Promos

    Credit: Luzitanija

    Cambodian Movement for Health operations director Mom Kong has called on the authorities to pursue legal action against people who promote the sale of e-cigarettes on social media despite several recent high profile raids.

    Kong said that the confiscation and incineration of e-cigarettes, or vapes, contributes to a reduction in their use among young people, according to Asia News.

    “I applaud the authorities’ willingness to destroy confiscated stock, as it demonstrates the strength of their commitment to the fight against these devices,” he added.

    He issued his statement just days after the Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General of the Ministry of Commerce – in cooperation with the National Authority for Combating Drugs and the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commission – destroyed 7,200 boxes, or 288 cartons of confiscated vapes and related products in a Dec. 30 bonfire.

    The products that were incinerated were confiscated during an early November raid on a Phnom Penh warehouse.

  • Cambodia Police Campaign Against E-Cigarette Use

    Cambodia Police Campaign Against E-Cigarette Use

    Credit: Luzitanija

    Authorities in Cambodia are stepping up their campaign against vaping throughout the country with students and youths as the main targets.

    Cambodian law bans the sale, consumption and import of e-cigarettes. However, there is no information that could be found on any consequences for using or selling vaping products.

    According to Khmer Times, no legal action can be taken against users or sellers but authorities hope to reverse the trend of vaping, if not stop it, by creating awareness of the ill effects of smoking an e-cigarette and educating users about “the folly of their ways.”

    General Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) said, “most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. E-cigarettes contain harmful substances besides nicotine.”

    Cambodian authorities cannot arrest anyone for e-cigarette use. Police can only advise underage users.

    “We can however take action against people who sell e-cigarette devices on the sly. We are also studying ways we can use existing laws and regulations to stop this threat to public health,” he said yesterday.

  • Cambodia Cracks Down on Heated-Tobacco Products

    Cambodia Cracks Down on Heated-Tobacco Products

    Photo: IRIS AO from Pixabay

    Cambodia’s National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) has instructed all relevant ministries and institutions to take immediate action to stop the use and commercialization of heated tobacco products (HTPs), reports The Phnom Penh Post.

    “All forms of trafficking, trading and importation of HTPs must be stopped and information on import restrictions must be disseminated to all vendors and the public,” the NACD stated in a directive.

    Citing the World Health Organization, the NACD said the use of cigars, electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) and HTPs can lead to serious lung disease and even death. The announcement further said that using these products is also a motivating factor for people to use other illegal drugs.

    Cambodia has restricted ENDS since February 2014, but its guidelines did not cover newer HTPs.

    Deputy National Police chief Mak Chito said that in the past the authorities had confiscated many of these products. He said that although some other countries consider the use of these products legal, Cambodia does not allow it.

     “In Cambodia, there are also bad people who are cheating by using methamphetamines or marijuana [with these devices],” he said.