Laos to Ban E-Cigarettes Amid Growing Concerns

The Lao authorities is ready to amend its laws on drug prevention and management to include digital cigarettes into the checklist of prohibited substances. This resolution is available in response to the escalating challenge of e-cigarette habit, significantly among the many youth inhabitants within the nation. 

Addressing the Nationwide Meeting in early November, Basic Vilay Lakhamphong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety, assured the Meeting that these gadgets can be promptly labeled as prohibited substances, including them to the checklist of merchandise containing banned addictive substances and precursors.

In late August, Dr. Thongphoun Meunphilomhe of Mittaphab Hospital drew consideration to the rising concern of digital cigarette utilization in Laos, citing the tragic case of a younger affected person whose demise was linked to extreme respiratory issues attributable to e-cigarette use. 

Moreover, a report from the World Well being Group (WHO) in 2022 estimates that tobacco-related illnesses trigger almost 6,800 deaths and value LAK 3.6 trillion (USD 173 million) yearly. E-cigarettes are thought-about to be simply as dangerous as conventional tobacco, and with out well timed restrictive measures, the nation will quickly face a brand new wave of e-cigarette habit, in keeping with the ministry.

Laos’ resolution to ban digital cigarettes aligns with a number of different nations within the Southeast Asian area. Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, and Thailand have already carried out comparable measures, reflecting a collective strategy to addressing this challenge, in keeping with the Southeast Asia Tobacco Management Alliance.