India: violators of the law on the use of e / s, may receive serious prison sentences and serious fines

Good day to all vapers who regularly follow the news of the vaping industry. Today we will continue world travels around the countries, and I will say right away that the news is not the most comforting. In short, I will say that in India, electronic cigarettes want to be equated with drugs, and as a result, vapers are threatened with even imprisonment and multiple fines. The Indian government is preparing a decree banning electronic cigarettes as part of the 100-day goals of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The decree provides for a maximum imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of 1 lakh ( 100,000 rupees ) for first-time violators of the law, and a harsher sentence for repeat offenders.

A recent proposal by the Technical Drug Advisory Council of India proposed banning the sale, manufacture, import, and distribution of all electronic cigarettes in accordance with sections 26A and 10A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940. The proposal said that “after the revision. In previous discussions, the Drug Advisory Committee concluded that these devices fall under the definition of “drug”. To this end, the Ministry of Health of the Union is preparing to issue a decree that will implement the ban. The 2019 electronic cigarette ban order, which will be sent to a group of ministers for consideration, provides for a maximum prison term of up to one year along with a fine of 1 lakh ( 100,000 rupees = $ 1,400 )for the first violation. While repeat offenders can be sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of 5 lakh (500,000 rupees = 7,000S).

This step is strongly recommended by the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR), which proposed a “total ban” on electronic cigarettes, stating that these devices are smoking gates and can cause nicotine addiction for non-smokers. “The ICMR recommends a complete ban on electronic cigarettes. The court rejected the motion banning the ban on electronic cigarettes. The decree will provide legal support for the ban “– said a senior official about trying to lift the ban. This step is at least ironic when devices that have established themselves as safer alternatives are banned, but real products that are toxic: cigarettes remain intact and are widely available throughout the country.

Already more than 3,000 users of electronic cigarettes has recently appealed to the Prime Minister with a request to legalize electronic cigarettes, saying veyping improved their health after switching from smoking. In 2016, two scientists, R.N. Sharan of the Department of Biochemistry, Northeastern Hill University (NEHU), and M. Siddiqui , Chairman of the Indian Cancer Foundation, wrote a letter to the Minister of Health J.P. Nadde, convincing him that he should consider policies that promote smoking cessation by providing smokers with safe and regulated tobacco alternatives.