Regulate, not ban, sale and use of e-cigarettes, other ENDS devices: Voluntary association

Amid debates over consumption of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, a voluntary association of trade representatives of ENDS in the country appealed to the Centre and the Delhi government on Wednesday to regulate the sale of e-cigarettes and "not impose a ban" on its use.

The association said it has written a fresh letter to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, seeking an audience to share the industry's perspective based on "research done on ENDS in the western countries".

ENDS are devices that heat a solution to create an aerosol, which also frequently contains flavours, usually dissolved into propylene glycol and glycerin. There are various types of ENDS devices like e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, vape, e-sheesha and e-nicotine flavoured hookah, among others.

The appeal comes days after the Delhi High Court directed the Kejriwal government to urgently look into the matter of regulating the sale and consumption of e-cigarettes and termed it an "e-burning issue" as damage was being caused to children, who have started consuming these products.

Besides, apex research body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had recently recommended a "complete" ban on ENDS, including e-cigarettes, saying their use can initiate nicotine addiction among non-smokers.

Praveen Rikhy, convener of the Trade Representatives of ENDS in India (TRENDS), interacting with reporters here, claimed that instead of banning it, both the central and state governments should consider regulating its sale and consumption.

"Studies done by a few research institutions in the west have shown that consumption of e-cigarettes, which contain far less harmful products, can help a smoker slowly give up smoking instead of relapsing to smoking cigarettes," she claimed.

Asked if there was any study done in India to back her claim, she said, "No, but we would urge the government to have a scientific research done on its effects."