Chennai: Last September, the State government prohibited the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes. With the move, Tamilnadu joined 14 other States and one Union Territory by doing so. However, activists alleged that the illegal activity continued to happen online without any hindrance. To evoke a blanket ban on the e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco product and hookah bars among others, the Centre passed an ordinance seeking the same today and the Cabinet approved it yesterday.
“The products affect the children in a massive way. The younger generation are easily addicted to the e-cigarette technology and the nicotine content. For instance, over 30 per cent of children in Singapore were addicted to e-cigarettes and was even found in their bags until the government banned the product. With this proactive move of banning the products instead of regulating ensures that it does not affect the public health anymore,” said Tobacco Monitor, a forum working for tobacco control, director S Cyril Alexander.
Despite the State government banning them a year ago, Cyril spoke about how easy it was to acquire e-cigarettes online despite raising a complaint with the cyber cell. Consumer Association of India (CAI) seconded the e-sales of the product. “Had it been regulated, enforcing and monitoring would have been an arduous task,” he added.
However, the activist raises the concern of lack of awareness among the consumers. “According to the ordinance, the users must return the stocked-up products to the nearby police station,” he said.
The ordinance read, “The owners of existing stocks of e-cigarettes on the date of commencement of the ordinance will have to suomoto declare and deposit these stocks with the nearest police station. The Sub-Inspector of Police has been designated as the Authorised Officer to take action under the Ordinance. The Centre or State governments may also designate any other equivalent officer(s) as Authorized Officer for enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance.”
| SMOKING CESSATION |
| It is to be noted that the electronic cigarettes entered the market with the claim of helping people discontinue smoking habits. However, there has been no concrete evidence proving smoking cessation which has also been taken into consideration for banning the substance. |
| NEED FOR VENDOR LICENSING |
| Analysing the issue from a broader spectrum, CAI liaison officer Somaundaram brings the point of issuing vendor licensing for selling the tobacco products. According to sources, it is learnt that the Greater Chennai Corporation is mulling over ways and organising talks on vendor licensing the shops for the welfare of the younger generation. |
| BREAKING THE JARGON |
| According to World Health Organisation, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), of which electronic cigarettes are the most common prototype, are devices that do not burn or use tobacco leaves but instead vaporise a solution the user then inhales. The main constituents of the solution, in addition to nicotine when nicotine is present, are propylene glycol, with or without glycerol and flavouring agents. The organisation categorises the emissions of e-cigarettes to be toxicants. |