Thailand: Thai FDA will lift alcohol advertising ban next month
Thailand's Food and Drug Administration will revoke its order totally banning the advertising of alcoholic beverages next month, FDA secretary-general Siriwat Tiptaradol said, according to Thai Press Reports Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge, January 25.
The FDA's move is to comply with the recent Cabinet instruction that the state agency must act according to the Council of State's resolution that the FDA had no authority to impose the ban.
In November last year, the Ministry of Public Health proposed a total 24-hour ban on all forms of advertising for beer, wine or hard liquor on TV, radio and print ads through a regulation issued by the FDA. But the proposed order, which was due to take effect on December 3, 2006, hit a major snag when the Council of State invalidated it, arguing that the FDA did not have authority to do so in the first instance.
The FDA-issued ban has prompted a fierce protest on the part of Thailand's giant breweries, as well as liquor importers and distributors, while the ban supporters have pressed the interim government to use its power to help it pass objections.
Even though it stood firm backing the ban at the beginning, the Cabinet in its recent meeting resolved in favour of the Council of State.
Dr. Siriwat said the FDA board will meet early February to consider officially lifting the ban.
Asked about the next move the FDA will take to control advertising for alcoholic beverages, the FDA chief said he did not think any agencies would like to carry forward this issue. It must be held on until a new alcohol control bill is enacted and enforced.
Regarding the suggested possibility of instructing the Public Relations Department to extend the hours for an alcohol ad ban on TV from the 10pm-5am at present to a longer period, Dr. Sirawat said that a further order needed to be issued, which would cause more difficulty. He also noted that it appeared that the liquor industry is powerful enough to hinder any attempt to ban alcohol ads.
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