Thai Court Rejects Tobacco Companies Appeal Against Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packages

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Central Administrative Court has rejected an appeal of tobacco companies to revoke Public Health Ministry’s graphic health warning covering 85 percent of cigarette packs on ground that the ministry is legally bound to protect the health of the public.

The court told Thai PBS that the Public Health Ministry’s graphic health warning on cigarette packs was compatible with the convention on the control of tobacco products of the World Health Organization of which Thailand is a member.

Diseases Control Department director-general Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai said that the enlarged graphic health warning from 55 percent to 85 percent of cigarette packs would make people realize the dangers of cigarettes which would help reduce the number of cigarette smokers.