Gujarat govt to ban sale and consumption of e-cigarettes by amending law

The Gujarat government will be banning the sale and consumption of e-cigarettes in the state and will bring a bill in the upcoming session of the state Legislative Assembly to amend an existing law. The existing law regulates the sale of tobacco products at present. Minister of State, Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja has said that addiction of e-cigarettes, which are easily available and bought online in absence of a prohibition on their sale, is harmful to youths.

Highlights of the move:

1. To ban the e-cigarettes, the Home department will bring a bill in the upcoming session of the Assembly to amend the law (the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products-- Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act) which regulates the sale and consumption of such items," said Jadeja.

2. The Assembly session would commence on July 2 and the govt. has decided to curtail the present trend of consuming e-cigarettes in the state among youth.

3. "We have observed a disturbing trend wherein youths are purchasing the e-cigarettes online, as there is no specific law which bans their sale or consumption in the state," the minister said. Till now, 12 states in India and 36 countries have banned the e-cigarettes.

4. Jadeja said, the e-cigarettes contain various hazardous chemicals, such as Propylene Glycol and lead, which can cause cancer and lung diseases.

5. This is a dangerous form of addiction which is becoming popular among youths and even young children. In India, youths below the age of 18 years are also buying it online, said Jadeja.