E-cigarettes still being sold month after ordinance, experts call for awareness programmes

Vaping devices continue to be sold on online sites and in shops more than a month after the ordinance against e-cigarettes, say several academics and other experts while stressing the need for awareness programmes targeting both consumers and traders.

On September 18, the government issued an ordinance making the manufacturing, production, import, export, distribution, transport, sale, storage or advertisements of alternative smoking devices a cognizable offence, attracting jail term and fine.

But a ban on any product also increases the chances of its illegal sale, especially in rural areas, and any change has to percolate down to local traders in tier 2 and tier 3 cities as well as those who consume the products, say legal and medical experts.

And the onus is on the government to ensure that people are educated about the reasons for the ban and the adverse impact on health, said Mukul Bajpai, associate professor in Clinical Microbiology at Guwahati's Base hospital.

There are many cases of traders selling the product just for the profit, ignoring the ill effects of it even if there is a blanket ban on it.

"The ordinance is undoubtedly a very good move in terms of banning the possible entry of combustible cigarette companies who have transformed into e-cigarette manufactures.

However, the government has to understand that its vigil needs to be strengthened since the illegal sale of e-cigarettes flourishes whenever there is any such ban," Bajpai told PTI.

"Illegal trade flourishes mostly in remote part of the countries. Apart from that the products are still available on several online sites and shops, Bajpai told PTI.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan recently noted that vaping was turning into an epidemic amongst the youth and allowing such products would have seriously undermined the government's tobacco control efforts.

According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17, only four per cent of population in India smokes cigarettes. The other 96 per cent, especially youth and adolescents are at risk of nicotine addiction through the use of e-cigarettes.

Rigvardhan, professor of Pathology at the Saraswati Medical College in Lucknow, added that the campaign against e-cigarettes will continue.

Also it's one thing to make a law but the real challenge will be to implement it effectively as we know 'electronic nicotine delivery system' (ENDS) are still available online and vaping is still a menace among youths."
The Indian Council of Medical Research in a recent white paper emphasised that use of ENDS or e-cigarettes has documented adverse effects on humans. These include DNA damage, carcinogenesis, cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity, respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders and adverse impact on foetal development, pregnancy, infant and child brain development