In late 2019, the Indian government issued a ban on vaping products.
The ordinance, originally announced by the finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, and passed by parliament months later, not only disallows the sale, manufacturing, and distribution of e-cigarettes, but also their importation, exportation, transport, storage and advertisement.
Sitharaman couched the move with the usual context—youth were experimenting with them too much, or at least would do so—and even said that “unfortunately, e-cigarettes got promoted initially as a way in which people can get out of the habit of smoking cigarettes.” Much evidence shows that vaping is far safer than smoking, and that many people successfully use vapes to quit deadly cigarettes.
India’s ban carries heavy consequences, too. A first-time violation can bring up to a year in prison and $1,400 fine; additional convictions can lead all the way up to five years in prison and a $7,000 fine.
Kiran Sidhu – Filter – 2022-08-01
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