E-cigarettes use not included in India ban, will defend any court challenge-official

Godfrey Phillips India

18/09/2019 14:20

By Aditya Kalra
    NEW DELHI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - India's ban on electronic
cigarettes will not apply to use of such devices and the
government was prepared to defend its decision if it's
challenged in a court, a senior health ministry official told
Reuters on Wednesday.
    India banned the sale of electronic cigarettes and warned of
an "epidemic" among young people, in the latest and potentially
biggest move against vaping globally over growing health
concerns.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2692FF 
    The ban applies to manufacture, import, sale, advertisement,
and distribution of e-cigarettes. Vikas Sheel, a senior federal
health ministry official, said it would not apply on use of such
devices.
    "Over a period of time, people will not get their (vape)
refills, so they will become responsible," Sheel said. 
    The health ministry also expects that the ban order will be
challenged in court, but it was prepared to defend it, Sheel
added.

 (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
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