The Union Health Ministry has issued a clarification and said that the possession of e-cigarettes and similar devices in any form, quantity or manner violates the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019. The government has also raised concern over the alarming rise in its use amongst youth.
The health ministry called for strict enforcement of the ban on e-cigarettes, in a clarification issued to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) last month, as reported by the news agency PTI.
Although PECA does not explicitly mention the prohibition of individual e-cigarette use, the law is designed to comprehensively prohibit all aspects of these products, the ministry said. This includes production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement of e-cigarettes.
“Therefore, possession of e-cigarette within the country in any quantity is not possible without contravening the provisions of PECA, 2019,” said Dr Pulkesh Kumar, deputy secretary in the Ministry of Health.
The ban under PECA 2019 extends to include all types of electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat not burn products, e-hookah, and similar devices. The legislation was enacted with the primary objective of safeguarding public health and ensuring protection from potential harm, the health ministry said.
It must be noted that e-cigarettes continue to be readily accessible through various channels, including tobacco vendors, general stores, and online retailers despite being prohibited.
