Cabinet decides to ban e-cigarettes

India has the second-largest number of tobacco users (268 million ) in the world - of these at least 12 lakh die every year from tobacco-related diseases. The Union Cabinet has given the approval to ban e-cigarettes in the country, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Cabinet on September 18 has approved the ordinance banning e-cigarettes. The Health Ministry had proposed an executive order from the government banning the devices in public interest. This, it said, was needed to ensure e-cigarettes do not become an 'epidemic' among children and young adults.

In a draft ordinance earlier Health officials had proposed maximum imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh for first-time violators. The production, manufacturing, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising related to e-cigarettes will be banned, Ms. Sitharaman said, during a press conference following a Cabinet meeting. The government will be bringing an ordinance in this regard.

Ms. Sitharaman, who had headed a Group of Ministers (GoM) on the issue, said the Cabinet decided to ban e-cigarettes and similar products as they pose health risk to people, especially the youth. The Centre's decision is based on a white paper released by ICMR on the potential hazard of e-cigarettes.

E-hookahs will also be banned, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, adding that there is no health benefit from e-cigarettes.