MINISTRY CRACKS DOWN ON ONLINE SALE OF E-CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS
In a bid to protect the public, especially children and young people, from the harms of tobacco and nicotine, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a fresh advisory to all states and union territories. The advisory prohibits the online sale, manufacture, distribution, trade, import, and advertisement of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, vape, e-sheesha, and e-nicotine flavored hookah ¹.
This move is part of the government’s efforts to enforce the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2023, and the Production of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019.
The Ministry has emphasized that these products are not to be sold or advertised, except as approved under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. States and union territories have been advised to take action against online sellers of tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
The government’s actions are guided by the need to protect public health, particularly among children and young people, from the risks associated with tobacco and nicotine addiction. The Ministry’s advisory is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
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