In compliance to ban electronic cigarettes in India, e-Hookah, e-cigar cease to cross the national boundaries

New Delhi, September 30: Complying over the Centre's ordinance issued on September 18 to ban production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes, the Commerce head on Monday confirmed that India had banned exports of electronic cigarettes, e-Hookah and other similar devices.

 

 

"Export of electronic cigarettes including all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Heat Not Burn Products, e-Hookah and the like devices by whatever name called and whatever shape, size or form it may have is prohibited", the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification. However, it said the ban does not conclude any product licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

 

The ordinance issued on September 18 bans e-cigarettes, making the production, import, export, transport, sale or advertisements of such alternative smoking devices a cognizable offence, attracting jail term and fine. According to the ordinance, the first time violators will face a jail term of up to one year and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. However, for the subsequent offences, a jail term of up to three years or a fine of Rs 5 lakh, or both will be enforced right.

 

An electronic cigarette is a handheld battery powered vaporizer that simulates smoking and provides some of the behavioral aspects of smoking, including the hand to mouth action of smoking, but without burning tobacco. "The main constituents of the solution, in addition to nicotine when nicotine is present, are propylene glycol, with or without glycerol and flavouring agents", the World Health Organisation says, adding that these solutions and emissions also contain some solutions that are considered to be toxicants.

 

In terms of shape and size, most e-cigarettes resemble ordinary cigarettes, cigars and smoking pipes, but of late brands have started experimenting with newer designs that may resemble whistles, pens. Justifying the ban, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "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 [a] weaning mechanism but are rather addicted to it".