BAN ON E-CIGARETTES

To prevent an entire generation from nicotine addiction

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to issue an Ordinance banning E-cigarettes, including its production, sale, import/ export, storage and advertising.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told a Press conference that the decision has been taken to prevent an ‘epidemic’ among the youth.

India has more than 100 million adult smokers, making it a huge potential market for e-cigarette companies. Vaping - which involves inhaling a mix typically made of nicotine, water, solvents and flavours is seen as an alternative to smoking which can help you quit, but its impact on health is still not fully known.

The Ordinance, which will be turned into a legislation in the next Parliament session, proposes maximum imprisonment of up to one year, along

with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, for first-time violators.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, who addressed

the Press conference along with Sitharaman, said: "We are trying to curb a problem before it becomes rampant. Current measures adopted to check regular cigarette use are slowly yielding results; for instance, smoking in public places is slowly diminishing." Asked about any study conducted on the ill-effects of e-cigarette, Sitharaman quipped that in the United States there have been seven deaths that were directly linked to the addiction.

"Data in the US suggests a 78 percent increase in the use of ecigarettes by high school students,’’ said Sitharaman, pointing out that 300 million US citizens are using e-cigarettes.

The ban on e-cigarettes is among the top priorities of the Narendra Modi government in the first 100 days. The ban comes on the heels of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation writing in February to all state drug controllers, advising them to prevent the sale, manufacture, distribution, trade, import or advertisement of ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems).

The Delhi High Court, however, stayed an order of the Directorate General of Health Services.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country’s apex medical research body, had also recommended a ‘complete ban’ on ENDS, citing a possible initiation of nicotine addiction among non-smokers.

However, not everybody is happy with the ban. ‘‘Why ban when you can tax (heavily)? Banning e-cigarettes while keeping tobacco products is bizarre. There are neither health nor fiscal grounds for this decision, so what's the logic?’’ pointed out a Twitter user.