Union Cabinet approves ban on e-cigarettes

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the ban on sale, production, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising related to of e-cigarettes

Finance Minister Nirmala 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

This ban means the production, manufacturing, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising related to e-cigarettes are banned, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Preeti Sudan, Secretary Health and Family Welfare said, the punishment proposed for violating the ban is imprisonment up to 1 year or a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, or both for the first offence and imprisonment of 3 years or a fine up to ₹5 lakhs or both, for subsequent offence. E-hookahs are also included.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that according to some reports, there are some people who are probably getting into the habit of e-cigarettes as it seems cool. It is believed that there are more than 400 brands, none of which is manufactured yet in India. And they come in over 150 flavours.