In terms of tobacco harm reduction, Asia, as the region with the highest smoking rate, is seeking changes with practical actions, and is treating tobacco harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes with an increasingly positive attitude. Just after the Philippines changed its attitude and implemented legislative supervision on e-cigarettes, Thailand also reported that it was ready to join the ranks of legalizing e-cigarettes.

Thailand has banned the import, export, sale and possession of e-cigarette products since November 2014. Despite strong opposition from local health experts and anti-smoking groups, anyone who violates it will have the product confiscated and be fined or jailed for up to 10 years.

Until December last year, MP Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said in an interview with the Bangkok Post that a way to legalize the sale of e-cigarettes was being explored, and he believed e-cigarettes were a safer option for those struggling to quit smoking. . If the tobacco industry is transformed into a more sustainable alternative, there will be greater gains for both local tobacco growers and the Thai Tobacco Authority.

In January, Chaiwut reiterated his stance at a ministry campaign rally that legalizing e-cigarettes would allow Thailand to benefit from taxes and provide a safer option to quit smoking. Chaiwut is set to form a working group to find a way to legalize e-cigarettes to help smokers switch to safer alternatives.

But the Thai Ministry of Health advised against lifting the ban. Perm-Sec Kiattipoom Wongrachit of the Ministry of Health told a meeting of the Government Tobacco Committee recently: "Continuing to ban all types of e-cigarettes will 'help protect non-smokers from health hazards'. Banning the sale of e-cigarettes is protecting children from harm important measures.”

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Fortunately, a draft legislation to legalize e-cigarettes is currently under consideration in a subcommittee of the Thai parliament, according to related work reports. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, along with other health officials, once again expressed support for the measure. Chaiwut believes that the public should have unbiased information about safer alternatives and, more importantly, young people should be educated that these products are not suitable for them.

The Manila Bulletin also reported that Thailand may follow the Philippines in enacting a law to regulate e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other safer alternatives.

"We expect more Southeast Asian countries to follow the example of the Philippines and Thailand in welcoming tobacco harm reduction as a solution to smoking," said Clarice Vigino, representative of the Philippines to the Coalition for Tobacco Harm in Asia Pacific (CAPHRA).

Asa Saligupta, Director of ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST), said: "A sensible health minister would not accept the dire situation in Thailand currently with tobacco. Smoking continues to kill around 50,000 Thais every year, and too many smokers are trapped in cigarettes, or Forced into the black market of e-cigarettes, a safety standard that controls neither the age of purchase nor the product. A public health minister in action would not accept this dire situation, let alone support these Chaos." Asa believes the e-cigarette bill will be passed by the Thai parliament within this year.

Finally, it is hoped that, as predicted by Asa, the legalization of e-cigarettes in Thailand will be introduced as soon as possible, and one day sooner, more lives will be saved. It is believed that as more and more countries begin to change their consciousness and replace prohibition with regulation, tobacco harm reduction in Asia will also achieve greater achievements.