Electronic cigarettes openly sold in the market, despite the ban brought by Government of India
Health Ministry tightening the Noose on Sale of Banned Electronic Cigarettes
Guwahati, Rongili Barta- Despite a ban on Electronic cigarettes by the Government of India in 2019, E- cigarettes are easily available in tobacco shops and are sold to children below 18 years of age. This is revealed in a recent survey conducted by Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam supported by Consumer VOICE, New Delhi. A rapid survey and sample collection was done to ascertain evidences of the violation of E-cigarette ban wherein shops/vendors were randomly selected for the investigation. The survey was conducted and evidence was gathered through both online and offline modes. The field investigators observed the availability of E-cigarettes, verification of age, checked on the awareness on E-cigarette ban among vendors and subsequent penalties in case found guilty among other observations. The rise in popularity of e-cigarettes among young people is a concerning trend that could have long- lasting negative consequences on their health. The addiction to nicotine and harmful chemicals present in e-cigarettes can have a detrimental impact on the physical and mental development of young individuals. It’s time to take action protect our youth from the dangers of e-cigarettes says Ashim Sanyal, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer VOICE, New Delhi. The ban on electronic cigarette was introduced to protect our younger generation from a new form of toxic addiction. However, its enforcement has been weak, resulting in market being flooded with cheap and unbranded Chinese make E-cigarettes. Thus, a coordinated effort at the Central and State level is urgently needed to ensure the ban is effective, says Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary, Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam The Government of India, considering the harmful effects of electronic cigarette and the alarming rise in its prevalence amongst youth, prohibited the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement, of electronic cigarettes which includes 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, vides the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019, which was introduced as an Ordinance and later formalized into an Act in the year 2019. Recently MoHFW in their directions to States/UTs highlighted weak implementation of Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019(PECA), leading to its easy availability through online, retail, convenient stores, stationery shops and near educational institutions. The States were directed to review the compliance of PECA and issue necessary instructions for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act, through special drives and random checking in schools and colleges.