BENGALURU: KARNATAKA is the latest state after Punjab and Maharashtra to ban e-cigarettes.
A notification was issued on Wednesday making the sale (including online), manufacture, distribution and trade of e-cigarettes illegal, with immediate effect.
Announcing this at a press conference on Wednesday, Minister for Health and Family
Welfare U T Khader said websites that are found selling these products would be immediately banned.
“We will take action against those selling e-cigarettes under Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The law allows us to punish those who sell it for up to five years,” he said.
Khader said the government had sought a report from officials on e-cigarettes, who found this method of inhaling nicotine also harmful.
Action against e-cigarette smokers, says minister According to the minister, action would also be taken against those smoking e-cigarettes as well.
Users of e-cigarette inhale a vapour that comes from a liquid consisting of nicotine and propylene glycol among others. Though touted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, there have been no substantial studies to support this claim.
The state government in its order has determined that the Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes have adverse effect on public health.
Saying that the use of nicotine is banned under Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, the government order says that only nicotine gums, lozenges of 2 mg and 4 mg strength are allowed, apart from nicotine dermal patches under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.
The government order also says that e-cigarettes are sold without obtaining valid licence from appropriate authority specified by law.