The Union Health Ministry of India has reminded the public that electronic cigarettes are entirely forbidden in the nation. The ministry emphasized that even though the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) of 2019 does not specifically mention personal use, the ban applies to all facets of e-cigarette use, including production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement.
PECA 2019 expands the scope of the ban to include e-hookahs, heat-not-burn items, and other similar gadgets. According to the health ministry, the Act was passed with the main goal of preserving the public's health and assuring protection from any danger.
E-cigarettes are still available through a variety of sources, including tobacco dealers, general stores, and online retailers, notwithstanding the ban. The health ministry warned 15 websites that were selling e-cigarettes in July and ordered them to stop all marketing and sales right now. The government has also been closely watching e-cigarette sales and advertising on social media platforms.
Therefore, possession of e-cigarettes within the country in any quantity is not possible without violating the provisions of PECA, 2019
Dr Pulkesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Health
2019 saw the implementation of PECA 2019, yet the Health Ministry has continued to express worries about the accessibility of e-cigarettes. They wrote to all states and Union Territories in February of this year to express their worries regarding the availability of e-cigarettes from local retailers. They published a notification in May ordering a number of parties to stop directly or indirectly manufacturing, obtaining, or selling e-cigarettes, including producers, manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, advertising, transporters, social media websites, and online shopping platforms.
This most recent initiative by the Union Health Ministry demonstrates the government's dedication to reducing e-cigarette use and safeguarding the public's health. The effective execution of the prohibition on e-cigarettes in India would depend on the enforcement of these restrictions. (Rehash/Dr. Nithin GN)
