‘Preparing Ourselves to Become an International Organization’: Thailand Tobacco Monopoly’s Regional and Global Strategies

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) controlled the country\u27s tobacco industry from its formation in the 1940s, until the government dropped restrictions on imported cigarettes in the late 1980s in response to pressure from the United States. The TTM has since competed with transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) in a semi-monopoly market in which TTCs have steadily increased their market share. Coupled with a decline in national smoking prevalence, the result of Thailand\u27s stringent tobacco control agenda, the TTM now accounts for a diminishing share of a contracting market. In response, the monopoly has looked to regional trade liberalisation, and proximity to markets with some of the world\u27s highest smoking rates to expand its operations. Expansion strategies have gone largely unrealised however, and the TTM effectively remains a domestic operation. Using TTM publications, market and trade reports, industry publications, tobacco industry documents and other resources, this paper analyses TTM expansion strategies, and the limited extent to which they have been achieved. This inability to expand its operations has left the monopoly potentially vulnerable to global strategies of its transnational competitors. This article is part of the special issue \u27The Emergence of Asian Tobacco Companies: Implications for Global Health Governance\u27

Thailand: Country Report on Labelling and Packaging

Thailand: Country Report on Labelling and Packaging Introduction From 1981 to 2001 there were dramatic changes in tobacco consumption in Thailand. The total number of smokers rose from 9.7 million in 1981 to 10.6 million two decades later. Smoking prevalence declined from 35.2% to 22.5% during the same period. The male smoking rate decreased from 63.2% to 42.9%, while female prevalence fell from 5.4% to 2.4.%. Per capita consumption rose from about 774 in 1970 to 1 087 in 1980. Since that time, it has decreased progressively to 798 in 2000

Thailand Country Report on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bans

Thailand Country Report on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion BansIntroductionCountrywide household surveys by the National Statistical Office have been the main source of information support for tobacco control in Thailand. The first, second and third surveys were carried out in 1976, 1981 and 1986 (five year intervals). Thereafter the surveys were carried out every two years.For the past two decades, the total number of smokers has risen, presumably as a result of the rise in population, from 9 676 700 in 1981 to 10 551 300 in 2001. Smoking prevalence declined from 35.2% in 1981 to 22.5% in 2001. Male and female smoking rates fell in this period from 63.19% to 42.92%, and from 5.39% to 2.36% respectively. Annual adult per capita cigarette consumption has also been decreasing, from 1087 in 1995 to 798 in 2000

Thailand Country Report on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bans

Thailand Country Report on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion BansIntroductionCountrywide household surveys by the National Statistical Office have been the main source of information support for tobacco control in Thailand. The first, second and third surveys were carried out in 1976, 1981 and 1986 (five year intervals). Thereafter the surveys were carried out every two years.For the past two decades, the total number of smokers has risen, presumably as a result of the rise in population, from 9 676 700 in 1981 to 10 551 300 in 2001. Smoking prevalence declined from 35.2% in 1981 to 22.5% in 2001. Male and female smoking rates fell in this period from 63.19% to 42.92%, and from 5.39% to 2.36% respectively. Annual adult per capita cigarette consumption has also been decreasing, from 1087 in 1995 to 798 in 2000

Research priorities for tobacco control in developing countries: a regional approach to a global consultative process

OBJECTIVE—To develop regional tobacco control research agendas for developing countries through a consultative process.
METHODS—Research for International Tobacco Control, located at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada, convened three regional meetings for Latin America and the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, and Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. Participation by researchers, policymakers, and advocates from a wide range of disciplines ensured an accurate representation of regional issues.
RESULTS—The four main recurring themes within each regional agenda were: (1) the lack of standardised and comparable data; (2) the absence of a network for communication of information, data, and best practices; (3) a lack of adequate capacity for tobacco control research, especially in non-health related areas such as economics and policy analysis; and (4) a need for concerted mobilisation of human and financial resources in order to implement a comprehensive research agenda, build partnerships, and stimulate comparative research and analysis. Specific research issues included the need for descriptive data with respect to the supply side of the tobacco equation, and analytical data related to tobacco use, production and marketing, and taxation.
CONCLUSIONS—There was a uniform perception of tobacco as a multidisciplinary issue. All regional agendas included a balance of health, economic, agricultural, environmental, sociocultural, and international trade concerns. Research data are urgently required to provide a sound basis for the development of tobacco control policies and programmes. As tobacco control takes its rightful place on the global health agenda, it is vital that funding for tobacco control research be increased.


Keywords: regional tobacco control programmes; developing countries; tobacco control researc