The Union Cabinet has proposed the ordinance for the complete ban on the sales and manufacturing of e-cigarettes inside the country.
Speaking to the press, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Considering the seriousness of the impact, that e-cigarettes are having on the youth today. The Union Cabinet has passed the ordinance to ban the manufacture and sales of e-cigarettes.”
“The ban includes the production, manufacturing, import, export, transportation, sales, distribution, storage, and advertisement of e-cigarettes in India,” Sitharaman said.
Quoting, the data based on U.S. experience, Sitharam, said: “The data highlights, the of 77.8 percent increase in the use of the e-cigarettes among the students. and the use of such products by middle school students has increased by 48.5 percent.”
Whereas, the Health Ministry, further proposed that: “Anyone who violates the ban would face one year in jail or a fine of Rs 1 lakh ($1,400), and for the subsequent offenses the penalty would be five years in jail, and a fine of Rs 5 lakh ($7,000).”
“Whereas Storing e-cigarettes would also be punishable with up to six months in jail, and fine of Rs 50,000-rupee ($700),” it added.