The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage, and Advertisement) Act, 2019 was enacted on the 5th December, 2019 which seeks to prohibit the production, trade, storage, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes.
Background
Smoking is a sin. To nudge smokers to quit, e-cigarettes were introduced but in course of time it was found that people became addicted to them. E-Cigarettes have equally bad repercussions on the health which leads to cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary problems. In this light, government took a proactive legislative measure and enacted the legislation.
Salient Features
Analysis
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
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Way Forward
Enacting a legislation is one side of the solution and it’s success lies in it’s enforcement and implementation on the ground. Harsh punishment prescribed in the act and associated addiction is going to turn it underground. So, informative empowerment of people in general and youth in particular and association of civil society will be the key determinant in the faithful implementation of the act. Further it is essential to enlarge the aim of the statute and move toward a tobacco free society to usher in holistic development health in country.