Home Ministry asks States, UTs to enforce ban on e-cigarettes

Two months after Union Cabinet decision to ban e-cigarettes, Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued an advisory to all the States and Union Territories asking them to strictly enforce the ban on e-cigarettes.

New Delhi: In a letter to Chief Secretaries and Director General of Police (DGPs), the home ministry said that the ordinance empowered police officers above the rank of sub-inspector and above other officers to enter, search and seize the prohibited items without a warrant.

The home ministry advisory said, "It is requested that due enforcement of provisions of the above-mentioned Ordinance may kindly be ensured, considering the potentially deleterious impact of e-cigarettes on public health, especially in respect of the young population going to schools and colleges."

"Further congruent capacity building and sensitisation of the enforcement personnel may be done for effective implementation of the Ordinance," it further added.

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Import, Export, Sale Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 was promulgated on 18 September 2019 for banning the production, sale, purchase, etc. of electronic cigarettes in the interest of public health.