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F E AT U R E S
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TOBACCO INDUSTRY
BUOYED BY INDIAN
VAPE BAN
AVI says ordinance ‘will put lives at risk’
Words: Gordon Stribling
T
o see how America’s attack on vaping is affecting the
worldwide industry you only need look to India.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country
is the second-largest consumer of traditional tobacco products, with
35 percent of the population using some form of tobacco.
Yet the central government has seen fi t to issue an executive order
banning the production, manufacture, import, export, sale, distribution
and advertisement of e-cigarettes. The ban is likely to be challenged
in court.
Offenders face penalties of up to a year in prison and fi nes of up
to 100,000 rupees (£1,133) for a fi rst offence and three years and
500,000 rupees for repeat offences.
Sixteen states have already passed laws banning vaping products.
The decision to ban e-cigarettes was made on the back of data
coming from the US and not the global consensus that is largely
supportive of vaping as a less harmful alternative that helps
smokers quit.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said:
“The decision was taken in light of the impact e-cigarettes are having
on youth.
“These e-cigarettes come in over 150 flavours, and it’s become a
fashion. The reason is it’s odourless.
“However, the smoke that is exhaled by the users has a high level
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