A network of e-cigarette users pressed the National Legislative Assembly to consider lifting the ban on the import, production, sale and possession of electronic cigarettes.
The Commerce Ministry earlier this year banned e-cigarettes and related products.
Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, chairman of the NLA's commerce subcommittee who received the petition, said the group backed calls for the ban to be reversed with information that 160 countries allow the sale of e-cigarettes, while only 15 countries ban them.
The group also claimed the ban on imported e-cigarettes in particular results in a substantial loss in import tax revenues, Mr Siripol said.
The subcommittee will discuss the group's demand, he said.
Maris Karanyawat, the network representative, said the group presented its petition to the NLA along with signatures of more than 17,000 people supporting the fight to protect the rights of more than 11 million cigarette smokers to gain access to e-cigarettes.
The ban deprives cigarette smokers of the chance to turn to e-cigarettes which help wean them off conventional cigarettes, Mr Maris said. The import ban also encourages young people to buy the paraphernalia illegally off the internet, he said.
Asa Salikhup, another network representative, said e-cigarettes were dogged by misinformation. He said the British Department of Health and the Royal College of Physicians found that e-cigarettes are far less harmful to health than tobacco smoking.
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Source article: Network fired up over electronic cigarette ban
The Commerce Ministry earlier this year banned e-cigarettes and related products.
Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, chairman of the NLA's commerce subcommittee who received the petition, said the group backed calls for the ban to be reversed with information that 160 countries allow the sale of e-cigarettes, while only 15 countries ban them.
The group also claimed the ban on imported e-cigarettes in particular results in a substantial loss in import tax revenues, Mr Siripol said.
The subcommittee will discuss the group's demand, he said.
Maris Karanyawat, the network representative, said the group presented its petition to the NLA along with signatures of more than 17,000 people supporting the fight to protect the rights of more than 11 million cigarette smokers to gain access to e-cigarettes.
The ban deprives cigarette smokers of the chance to turn to e-cigarettes which help wean them off conventional cigarettes, Mr Maris said. The import ban also encourages young people to buy the paraphernalia illegally off the internet, he said.
Asa Salikhup, another network representative, said e-cigarettes were dogged by misinformation. He said the British Department of Health and the Royal College of Physicians found that e-cigarettes are far less harmful to health than tobacco smoking.
Please show some support by liking the article on the Bangkok Post website.
Source article: Network fired up over electronic cigarette ban
