Tag: Thailand

  • Thailand Tobacco Authority Considers Cannabis

    Thailand Tobacco Authority Considers Cannabis

    Photo: cytis | Pixabay

    The Tobacco Authority of Thailand (TOAT) is hoping that sales of cannabis and hemp extracts will help compensate for deteriorating income from tobacco production, reports the Bangkok Post.

    The TOAT is drafting a ministerial regulation to give the organization the authority to grow and produce extracts from cannabis and hemp, which can be used in medicine and cosmetics, said TOAT governor Panuphol Rattanakanjanapatra.

    Although the Tobacco Act stipulates TOAT can produce tobacco leaves and other plants, clarity is needed on TOAT conducting R&D on cannabis and hemp for commercial purposes.

    The business value of cannabis and hemp could reach tens of billions of baht, according to Panuphol.

    At present, a two-tier system is applied for excise duties levied on cigarettes. A 20 percent tax rate is applied to the retail price for packs costing up to THB60 ($1.95).

    If the retail price exceeds THB60 per pack, a 40 percent tax rate is applied.

    A flat tax rate of 40 percent was scheduled to be applied in October 2019, regardless of the retail price, but there has been opposition from the authority and tobacco farmers.

  • Bangkok Man Charged With Selling Illegal E-Cigarettes

    Bangkok Man Charged With Selling Illegal E-Cigarettes

    Thailand police with illegal vapor stuff
    Credit: Nation Thailand

    Over 70 various e-cigarette and vapor related products have been seized in Bangkok, Thailand after raiding the home of a 35-year-old man. Vaping products are illegal for sale in Thailand. The country banned the products in 2014.

    Police found 70 electronic cigarettes, several containers of e-liquid and other related products. Police say the alleged dealer sold the e-cigarettes and e-liquid through Facebook and used a private delivery service to ship the products to customers.

    Police tracked down the dealer’s address and searched his home, finding e-cigarettes and related products valued at around baht300,000 ($9,839), according to a report in The Thaiger.

    The accused was detained and charged with violating consumer protection regulations. Police say he admitted to selling the products.

    Earlier this year, a consumer advocacy group asked the government of Thailand to consider science as basis for ending e-cigarette ban.

  • Thailand Asked to Consider Science in Vapor Regulation

    Thailand Asked to Consider Science in Vapor Regulation

    Scenes like this are rare in Thailand. This vaper in Koh Samui, Thailand could face fines or even jail. (Timothy S. Donahue)

    A consumer advocacy group wants the government of Thailand to consider science as basis for ending e-cigarette ban. The group cites Hong Kong’s use of scientific studies as the basis for ending the ban on smoke-free nicotine, including vapor, heat-not-burn tobacco products (HnB) and snus.

    Asa Ace Saligupta, who runs consumer group ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand, said the Hong Kong Legislative Council (Legco) decided to suspend the discussions on the proposed ban on vaping products, after some members of Legco’s Bills Committee on Smoking cited scientific studies showing that e-cigarettes, HnB and the likes have much lower levels of toxicants compared to combustible cigarettes, according to a release on pressat.co.uk.

    He noted that after nine meetings, including three public hearings, the committee which was established in March 2019 decided to end the discussions on the vaping ban on June 2, 2020. The members of the committee also expressed concern that an outright ban would create more illegal channels and that the products could end up in the hands of underage users.

    “The Hong Kong experience sets forward a good example of listening to opinions and engaging all parties involved, including the public sector—something that the policymakers in Thailand have avoided so far,” Saligupta said.

    Saligupta said his group will petition the Thai government to also set up a committee to study e-cigarettes and find suitable control channels that will enable adult Thai cigarette smokers to find safer alternatives.

    “Instead of using electronic cigarettes as a tool to create fear by creating a discourse on children and youth or Covid-19, we want to call on the Thai government to set up an independent committee to seriously study the science, commercial aspects, and regulatory framework for electronic cigarettes like Hong Kong and many other countries,” he said.