Concerned over potential health risks especially among the youth, the Modi government has imposed a complete ban on E-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
The Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared an ordinance to effect ban on production, sale, import and any other activities related to various ENDS products. A bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of the Parliament to make the ban permanent.
With this vaping would become a cognizable offence and breaking the law would attract up to 3 years of jail term and fine of up to Rs 5 lakh or both.
E-Cigarettes or other similar devices do not burn tobacco but heats the liquid chemicals into a vapor or steam that a person inhales. This is the reason it is also called vaping. It is considered injurious to health.
So far, about 30 countries have banned ENDS even as its supporters have claimed it to be safer than conventional cigarettes. Marketers of E-cigarettes in India have been lobbying against the ban and ahead of the Cabinet decision intensified their campaign.
In advertisements in national dailies, they claimed that banning “an effective public health strategy” shall only encourage counterfeit and grey market trade and an extremely adverse public health scenario.
As many as 400 different brand of E-cigarettes, the most popular being Juul from the US, are currently imported and sold in the local market.
Those favouring its use have claimed that as many as 70 countries have national federal laws regulating ENDS and countries like UK, France, US and Sweden are reporting declines in smoking rates.
“Youth addiction is a concern. But countries like UK have effectively negated it by regulating sales to above 18 years and adult smokers only,” an advertisement favouring ENDS said.
Surprisingly, India has moved to ban E-cigarettes and other ENDS devices but has not shown any desire to outlaw smoking conventional cigarettes which are far more harmful and a major reason of oral, lung and other cancer.
When asked if the Modi government would consider banning E-cigarettes during a press briefing, the two cabinet ministers — Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar ducked the question.
“Your suggestion has been taken,” Javdekar told reporters.
Popular ENDS devices are Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and other similar devices. They come in dozens of different flavours and hence considered a “cool thing” among the youngsters. In recent years, almost all the upscale markets in cities have hookah bars which have become a menace.
While ENDS devices have become popular in metros now, it first made its way in Europe and other advanced countries in the early 2000s. In the US, vaping has emerged as a major concern given that even school-going boys and girls have become addict to it. But still barring one or two states, ENDS is produced and sold in the country.
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