Ministry of Health issues warning to 15 sites selling electronic cigarettes

According to official
sources, the Union Health Ministry has written notices to 15 websites
advertising and selling e-cigarettes, which are prohibited in India.

They added the
government is also keeping a close eye on the promotion and sale of
e-cigarettes on social media platforms and could soon issue notices to an
additional six websites.

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An official source told
PTI that only four of the fifteen websites that were served the “takedown
notice” have ceased functioning.

The Health Ministry has
threatened to contact the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to
have these sites shut down if the operators do not reply and comply with the
law. According to the source, legal action would be taken against the sites in
question.

As of 2019, it is
illegal to produce, manufacture, ship, import, export, transport, sell,
distribute, store, or advertise electronic cigarettes under the Prohibition of
Electronic Cigarettes Act.

Within 36 hours of
obtaining the notice, the online companies were required to respond.

Four of the fifteen
online entities have responded by ceasing operations. We are still awaiting
responses from the remaining parties, failing which further action will be
taken, according to an official source.

Concerned that
e-cigarettes were still available online and from local vendors, the ministry
had written to all states and Union Territories in February to guarantee that
everyone complies with the prohibition on e-cigarettes and to make sure these
devices were no longer available.

In a letter to chief
secretaries, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan cited instances of
e-cigarettes being sold in convenience and stationery stores, as well as in
close proximity to educational institutions, thereby making these products readily
accessible to children.

The warning stated that
failure to comply with the directive “may constitute aiding and abetting
the transmission of such unlawful information or the conduct of such unlawful
activity, as applicable, which means that you may be punished for hosting such
information, data, or communication links.” The notice added that failure
to comply may result in penalties under the IT Act and/or the Prohibition of
Electronic Cigarettes Act.

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