New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has given the approval to ban e-cigarettes. It means the production, manufacturing, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising related to e-cigarettes are banned.
President, Indian Tobacco Traders Association, Mattupally Umamaheswara Rao has welcomed the cabinet decision on the ban of e-cigarettes. He said the farmers who produced the cigarettes do not benefit out of it which will ultimately be a loss to the country.
India is the second-largest producer of Tobacco in the world. Its major tobacco-producing states include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and 9 others.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) had appealed to the government to ban e-cigarettes and vaping products in the country.
Farmer's body FAIFA also asked the government for a complete ban on e-cigarettes and vaping products saying allowing trade of such items in India would have a 'catastrophic effect' on local tobacco growers.
The Prohibition of E-cigarettes Ordinance, 2019, was recently examined by a Group of Ministers (GoM) following directions from the Prime Minister's Office.
"The GoM had suggested minor changes and these have been incorporated. The draft ordinance is like to be put up before the Cabinet tomorrow," a source said.
In the draft ordinance, the Health Ministry has proposed maximum imprisonment of up to one year along with a penalty of Rs 1 lakh against first-time violators.
The ministry has recommended a maximum of up to three years of jail and a penalty of Rs 5 lakh for repeat offenders, the sources said.
Banning alternative smoking devices like e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn smoking devices, vape and e-nicotine flavoured hookahs was among the key priorities of the first 100 days agenda of the Modi government in its second term.
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