The World Health Organization ( WHO) plans to launch an international anti-smoking public campaign in Bangkok to mark the World No-Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31, Thai News Agency reported on Saturday, quoting a senior public health official.

Dr. Panya Sornkom, advisor to Thailand's Deputy Public Health Minister, said that WHO will launch the public relations campaign in Thailand from May 30 to July 1 this year to mark the World No Tobacco Day on May 31. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont are scheduled to declare their joint intention to fight against tobacco consumption.

Thailand is regarded as the world's second ranked country in reducing tobacco use by implementing anti-smoking measures, following Canada, Panya said.

The public health ministry plans to extend no smoking zones to cover 1,500 fresh markets nationwide before the end of this year. The ministry is also conducting a feasibility study to see if no- smoking zones should be extended to entertainment venues like pubs and bars.

Thailand already has some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world. In 2005, the government banned cigarette displays at points of sale, making Thailand the third country worldwide to do so. The law banning smoking in virtually all public places came into force on Dec. 29, 2006.

Other restrictions on the tobacco industry include bans on cigarette advertisements on media, bans on smoking in most public places and requirements that all cigarette packs put on graphic photos, such as death's heads and dark lungs, depicting the ill effects of tobacco on health.

Source: Xinhua