WHO backs Thailand's plan on enlarged warnings of cigarette packs

BANGKOK, September 26 (TNA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its support for Thailand's attempt to control smoking for the sake of good public health by being the first country to enlarge warnings on cigarette packs to cover 85 per cent of each packaging surface. Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sintawanarong told journalists on Wednesday that WHO Director-General Dr. Magaret Chan wrote to him on September 16, 2013 to express her full support for the change. Dr. Pradit acknowledged that the letter mentioned if Thailand's amended law takes effect, the country will be the first in the world to have health warnings printed on 85 per cent of each cigarette packaging surface. According to the WHO chief, the ameneded Thai law is also in compliance with the WHO's law to protect the health of non-smokers, as it has been technically recognized internationally that the enlargement of warnings should reduce the number of smokers. The Thai health minister said the WHO has prepared evidence to support the Thai government's effort and to encourage its member countries to issue their laws to protect the health of their people. Regarding progress in Thailand's amended law to increase the area of warnings from 55 per cent to 85 per cent of the front of each cigarette pack, the Thai health minister noted that his ministry has appealed to Bangkok's Supreme Administrative Court, seeking its green light to impose the law on October 2, 2013. The health minister revealed that he is waiting for a ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court, after filing petitions relating to a case with Philip Morris on September 11, 2013 and another with JTI on September 17, 2013. The Thai health minister added that he has also prepared written explanations and legal experts from Thammasat and Chulalongkorn Universities to convince the Supreme Administrative Court. (TNA)