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Government of India announces ban on E-cigarettes

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The Government of India on 18th September, 2019 approved the Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Ordinance, 2019. “E-cigarettes were promoted as a way to get people out of their smoking habits but reports have shown that many people are not using it as weaning mechanism but are addicted to it,” said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while announcing the Government’s decision to put a ban on e-cigarettes. Public Health Fraternity welcomed the Government of India decision for banning Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), as this will go a long way in saving millions of lives.

18 States and 2 Union Territories in India (Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Haryana, Mizoram, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Odisha) banned the use and sale of E-cigarettes, Vape & E-Hookah post the advisory by the MoHFW .

In order to prevent the initiation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) by non-smokers and youth with special attention to vulnerable groups and considering the harmful health effects of E-cigarettes, MoHFW earlier issued an advisory to all States/UT`s, to ensure that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), e-Cigarettes, Heat-Not-Burn devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and the like devices that enable nicotine delivery are not sold (including online sale), manufactured, distributed, traded, imported and advertised in their jurisdictions.

A sub-committee group constituted by MoHFW, on health effects of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), considered 251 studies/reports and concluded that there is evidence to prove that the ENDS and its variants are harmful to users. This committee of doctors from AIIMS, NCDIR and public health experts has concluded that ENDS are as harmful as any another tobacco product in terms of causing premature deaths and morbidity. According to the committee, there is no evidence to show that ENDS are less harmful, safe and helpful towards cessation efforts. The medical communities across the globe have also questioned the acceptance of ENDS as a harm reduction or tobacco cessation strategy. 36 countries around the world banned the sale of E-cigarettes due to its health harms.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended a complete ban on e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). As per the ICMR recent paper, it was noted that use of ENDS or e-cigarettes has documented adverse effects on humans, which include DNA damage; carcinogenic, cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity, respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, and adverse impact on fetal development and pregnancy.

ENDS products were found to be gaining alarming popularity among the youth in India and were found to be easily available in markets and through various online websites. ENDS devices are battery powered devices used to smoke or vape a flavoured solution containing varying amounts of Nicotine.

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