E-Cigarettes to be banned in India, dubbed a drug; Centre to release notification soon

If you are looking to smoke e-cigarettes to kick your cigarette smoking habit, then think again! The government will now consider the smoking of e-cigarettes i.e. electronic cigarette as "drugs" and as such has decided to ban it across the country. Union Health Ministry has decided to impose a ban over it due to its dangerous effect on health. The government notification can be expected soon, said a Zee News report.

In the recently held Drug Consultative Committee Meeting, it was agreed to declare e-cigarettes and other such devices as a drug under Section 3 (b) of the Drug and Cosmetic Act 1940 (DCA), according to the report.

The e-cigarette termed as electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) is currently being sold in the market as a product that helps people to get rid of smoking, and this is why e-cigarettes among youth have become very popular. The fact, however, is that e-cigarettes are also causing ill-effect on health. The device does not burn tobacco, but uses a heating device to blow smoke with liquid nicotine solution. Users inhale this smoke along with cigarette smoking which is very harmful, the report said. 

According to the government data, there are 460 brands of e-cigarette in the country, which provides more than 7,700 flavors of e-cigarettes. Under ENDS, come products like e-cigarettes, heat-knot burn devices, vap, e-shisha, e-nicotine, and flavored hookah. 

Notably, under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, the government can not ban such products, but can merely control their sales. In this case, the government will have to make several legal changes so that e-cigarette can be banned, the report said.

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However, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, e-cigarette can be declared a "drug" in India. Section 26A allows the government to ban drugs or cosmetics, in order to save people ill effects. 

American researchers have also found that this may damage brain cells or Brain Stem Cells. E-cigarette can cause stress in cells. There are certain stem cells that perform specific functions for cerebral, blood, and bone cells. If a person uses e-cigarettes even for a short time, then also this cell may damage cells, the report added.