Court asked to okay larger tobacco warnings
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The Public Health Ministry yesterday filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court asking that the ministry be allowed to mandate larger health warnings on cigarette packs.
The move follows last month’s suspension by the Administrative Court of a plan under which tobacco firms must increase the size of the warning graphics from 55 per cent of the pack surface to 85 per cent.
Disease Control Department deputy chief Dr Nopporn Cheanklin said the ministry’s appeal asked the court to force cigarette makers to use 10 warning graphics from October 2. It would also force them to enlarge the graphics so they cover up to 85 per cent of the packaging surface.
Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said at least nine cigarette makers had complied with the ministerial announcement and changed the warning graphics. Two of them had already shipped their products to Thailand.
