Guj tobacco farmers, trade reps of ENDS protest ordinance to ban e-cigarettes

Associations of Gujarat tobacco farmers and merchants on Tuesday backed the demand made by trade representatives of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes, seeking a review of the government's decision to bring an ordinance to ban such "alternative" smoking devices.

The Union Health ministry is working on an ordinance to ban the production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes and has proposed jail term for violaters.

While the move was welcomed by public health groups and doctors, the voluntary association of Trade Representatives of ENDS in India (TRENDS) comprising importers, distributors and marketers of alternative smoking devices accused the Centre of ignoring the "opinions of stakeholders".

"It is strange and dubious how the health ministry has decided to ban such devices when the minister of state had recently informed parliament that only 3 per cent of the population was aware about e-cigarettes," Praveen Rikhy, convenor of TRENDS said.

"What was the emergency? How could e-cigarettes be the greatest challenge being faced by this government," she added.

Corroborating her views, Bhikhubhai N Patel, President of the Gujarat Tobacco Merchants Association said, "This is an issue that can have adverse impact on the livelihoods of farmers in Gujarat."
Raising doubts on the "scientific evidence" based on which the government is bringing the ordinance, AVI said: "Well-regarded public health institutions like the US Food and Drug Administration, UK's Royal College of Physicians and American Cancer Society have found e-cigarettes to be up to 95 per cent less harmful than smoking cigarettes."