PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday (May 13) that no investment in e-cigarette production would be licensed in the South-East Asian country.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Barros Figueira Miguel, president of the Association of Tobacco Industry in Cambodia, at the Peace Palace in the capital Phnom Penh, said a news release from the prime minister's spokesperson unit.
"Samdech Thipadei reiterated that the Royal Government of Cambodia will not allow any investment in the production of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in Cambodia," the news release said.
Samdech Thipadei is the honorific title of Hun Manet.
The prime minister said the government has currently paid attention to preventing the imports of illegal tobacco products and cigarettes, while raising awareness among people about the effects of tobacco products and cigarettes on people's health.
Cambodia has prohibited the import, trade, and use of e-cigarettes and shisha since 2014, but there were still reported cases of illegal import and sale of these products.
The Ministry of Health has warned several times of health hazards from smoking e-cigarettes, saying that they contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, that could cause serious effects on users' health.
An e-cigarette or vape is a battery-operated device that heats up a special liquid into an aerosol that users inhale, the ministry said, adding that e-cigarette smokers could face a high risk of lung disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and damage to brain development. - Xinhua
