The production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale and advertisements of e-cigarettes have been made a punishable offence with imprisonment up to one to three years and fines of Rs. 1 Lakh to Rs. 5 Lakh by the cabinet on Wednesday.
The government has implemented the ban by releasing an ordinance prohibiting the storage of any stock of e-cigarettes and states that any existing stock will have to be disposed of from the date of promulgation of the ordinance. The ban also covers hookah bars.
While imposing the ban on e-cigarettes, the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and I&B minister Prakash Javadekar said smoking e-cigarettes, including vaping, poses various health hazards through nicotine and other chemical ingredients.
The ordinance will be converted into a bill in the next session of parliament as it awaits the assent of the President which is necessary for it to become a bill. First-time violators of the ban will face a jail term of up to one year and a fine of Rs. 1 Lakh, whereas, for any subsequent offences, a jail term of up to three years or a fine of Rs. 5 Lakh, or both, has been prescribed. A jail term of up to six months or fine up to Rs. 50,000, or both has also been prescribed for storage of e-cigarettes.
The finance minister, who headed a group of ministers on the issue, stated that the cabinet decided to ban e-cigarettes and similar products as they pose a health risk to people, especially the youth.
The public health experts have stated that e-cigarettes pose significant health risk similar to conventional cigarettes. Bhavana B Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, Voluntary Health Association of India has said that “ The decision to prohibit e-cigarettes will help protect our people, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through e-cigarettes. They are being marketed as a harm-reduction product which is contrary to the truth.”
However, the users, promoters, and stakeholders that promote e-cigarette have alleged that the move to ban the & lsquo alternative' smoking device is a & lsquo draconian' step which has been taken by the government to protect the conventional cigarette industry. Moreover, they have stated that this move is depriving the people of a safer alternative to smoking.
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