Cabinet approves ban on e-cigarettes

New Delhi: Finally, it's an end to the ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery System) in India as the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to completely ban the production, manufacturing, import, export, sale, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes and other vaping products such as e-hookahs in the county.

The decision in this regard has been taken to protect children from being getting addicted to tobacco smoking as the findings of reports of US-based organisations has suggested that smoking e-cigarettes had become a trend among youngsters resulting in addiction of nicotine products.

Emphasising on the word 'report' while announcing the Cabinet decision, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Reports say (not me) that there are some who are probably getting into the habit of e-cigarettes as it seems cool. It is believed that there are more than 400 brands, none of which is manufactured yet in India and they come in over 150 flavours."

Earlier, making the way for Sitharaman to announce the key decision after the announcement of approval of 78 days' wages as a bonus for railway employees, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "Sitharaman is present here not as a Finance Minister, but good health makes protects your wealth."

Highlighting the losses caused to the nation, the Finance Minister said, "The use of e-cigarettes had caused a lot of damage across the world. The government hoped to take the issue of banning e-cigarettes in India in the next session of Parliament, where it will be passed through an ordinance."

"Even the middle school students have become victims of e-cigarettes. There are over 3 million regular users of e-cigarettes in the US and between 2011 and 2015, there has been over 900 per cent growth in the use of e-cigarettes in the US," she said.

"These e-cigarettes come in over 150 flavours, and it has become a fashion now. The reason is it's odourless. However, the smoke that is exhaled by the users has a high-level of residual nicotine in it and those who passively inhale them are also affected," the minister said.

Informing about the penalty provisions for violating the norms, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said, "The punishment proposed for using e-cigarettes was imprisonment up to 1 year or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both for the first offence and imprisonment of three years or a fine up to Rs 5 lakh or both, for subsequent offence. The fine is imposed on e-hookahs too." According to senior officials, on the ordinance get issued, those holding e-cigarette stocks would have to declare and deposit their stocks with the nearest police station; else they would face the legal action. Banning alternative smoking devices like e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn smoking devices, vape and e-nicotine flavoured hookahs were among the key priorities of the first 100 days agenda of the Modi government in its second term.

Commenting on the decision, Dharminder Nagar of Paras Healthcare said, "There is no 'good smoke' and all forms of smoke are bad. We must eliminate smoke and tobacco in all forms to be able to lay the foundation of a healthier India." Notably, the Health Ministry had proposed to ban the devices in public interest, saying it was needed to ensure e-cigarettes don't become an "epidemic" among children and young adults.

The Prohibition of E-cigarettes Ordinance, 2019, was recently examined by a Group of Ministers following directions from the Prime Minister's Office.