The Thai government held a meeting with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) during the 9th United Nations Conference on Trade and Consumer Protection, held from July 7 to 11, 2025. Ms. Jiraporn Sinthupai, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Mr. Ranong Poolsapatt, Secretary of the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) attended the meeting.
Key Issue: Preventing Youth from “E-Cigarettes”
During the meeting, both parties emphasized the importance of effective health policies to protect youth from the risks of using “e-cigarettes”, which are spreading rapidly worldwide, especially among students.
Dr. Tedros noted that e-cigarette manufacturers use marketing strategies that make their products attractive to teenagers, with some countries even selling them near schools, increasing the likelihood of young people using e-cigarettes.
Thailand’s Role on the Global Stage
Ms. Jiraporn Sinthupai expressed the Thai government’s stance, which emphasizes the importance of controlling and preventing e-cigarettes through collaborative efforts, particularly in intercepting illegal imports, inspecting both physical and online stores, and conducting school campaigns.
She said:
“Protecting consumers and taking care of public health is a shared responsibility of all sectors.”
In addition, the CPB plans to strengthen cooperation with WHO to address new risks in the digital age, especially issues related to youth health.
Action Plan and Long-Term Goals
This discussion is a significant step in promoting policies to achieve a “sustainable society with a high quality of life”. Thailand aims to be one of the countries that actively promotes the protection of youth health.
The CPB and WHO jointly promote that children and youth are aware, recognize, and avoid the dangers of e-cigarettes.
For the Public, this message shows the collaboration between the government and international organizations in protecting consumer health at both national and regional levels, especially in an era where technology and new product markets play a significant role in public health.
For Researchers and Communicators, the collaboration between the two organizations is an important example of addressing health issues related to technology and teenage behavior.
