[Intl-tobacco] =?X-UNKNOWN?Q?Thailand=3A_Ash_Wants_Tobacco_Taken_Off=A0=A0Asea?= =?X-UNKNOWN?Q?n_Free_Trade_List_=28fwd=29?=

[Robert Weissman]

Ash Wants Tobacco Taken Off=A0=A0Asean Free Trade List
Retail shops selling cigarettes to minors
by Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
Source: Bangkok Post, Tuesday, 5/30/00

School children stage a No-Smoking Parade at Den La kindergarten in Bang
Phlat district yesterday, to mark International Anti-Smoking Day, which
falls
=09=09=09=09=09=09on May 31. _ APICHART
JINAKUL

=09=09=09 =09=09=09 Anti-smoking advocates
yesterday urged the government to remove tobacco from the list of products
which will enjoy a level of tax exemption by 2003 under the Asean Free
Trade Area agreement.

Prakit Vathisathokit, secretary-general of Action on Smoking and Health
Foundation (Ash), said since tobacco is a product harmful to health, it
=09=09=09should not be allowed to enjoy tax privileges
under Afta.

At least two multi-national tobacco companies had moved their
manufacturing plants into Asean, to take advantage of Afta, said Bang-on
Rithiphakdi of Ash.

Ms Bang-on was referring to the recent shift of the manufacturing plants
of Philip Morris and British American Tobacco from Hong Kong to Malaysia.

Judith Mackay of the World Health Organisation's Tobacco-Free Initiative,
said though Thailand had done a lot to control cigarette smoking, it
needed to take additional steps to keep the number of cigarette smokers
from growing
=09=09=09beyond 10 million.

More serious enforcement of existing regulations against tobacco
consumption is required, said Dr Prakit. He said a random survey conducted
last week showed that 90% of retail shops in Bangkok continue to sell
cigarettes to minors below 14 years of age, which is against the law.