New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) The government on Wednesday approved the promulgation of an ordinance which bans Electronic Cigarettes in the country.
Announcing this at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the ban would prohibit production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of the same.
The ordinance is named as 'Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Ordinance, 2019.
Answering questions, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said the government decision will result in fetching in revenue to the government.
Ms Sitharaman said smoke exhaled by user of e-cigarrets contains high level of residual nicotine, adding that impact of e-cigarretes have caused in the US among the other countries.
She emphasised that reports say that 'there are some 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'.
The decision to prohibit e-cigarettes will help protect population, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through E-cigarettes.
UNI DEVN-RSA-ASH 1537