Lok Sabha Question No. 280 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: e-Cigarettes
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 280 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 th  AUGUST, 2018

## E-CIGARETTES

## *280.   DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will  the  Minister  of COMMERCE  &  INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय  एवं  उɮयोग  मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  India  has  never  formally  defined  its  stance  on  e-cigarettes  and  if  so,  the  facts  in  this regard;
- (b) whether India is importing e-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and if so, the names of the countries from where these are imported along with its trade marketing value, country-wise;
- (c) the names of the major importers of e-cigarettes or ENDS and the total volume of imports of ecigarettes and ENDS in the country during 2016-17 and 2017-18;
- (d) whether  countries  all  over  the  world  are  clamping  down  on  the  use  of  vapourisers    and  ecigarettes, with many choosing to ban the devices altogether and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering ban on import of e-cigarettes or ENDS and if so, details thereof along with the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- a) to  e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 280   FOR ANSWER ON 06 th  AUGUST, 2018 REGARDING 'E-CIGARETTES'.

- (a)  : A Roundtable discussion was conducted on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) on 4th July 2014, wherein eminent doctors, specialists, scientists and officers of health and drug department  concluded that  available  scientific  evidences  indicate  that  the  ENDS  and  similar technologies that encourage tobacco use, are hazardous for an active as well as passive user and have an adverse impact on public health.
- (b)  : E-cigarette or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) has not been separately classified under Import Policy. On the basis of item description reported of imported items in the import database,  country-wise  import  of  'E-Cigarettes,  its  Accessories  and  Electronic  Nicotine Delivery Systems(ENDS)', for the last two financial years (2016-17 to 2017-18) is Annexed.
- (c)  :  In  order  to  maintain  commercial  confidentiality  Importer/Exporter-wise  trade  data  is  not disseminated.
- (d): As per 'WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2015', 25 Countries have legislation banning  the  sale  of  Electronic  Nicotine  Delivery  System  (ENDS)/  Electronic  Non-Nicotine Delivery System (ENNDS).
- (e): There is no proposal, at this stage, to impose ban on import of e-cigarettes or ENDS.

****

| Import of E-Cigarettes   |                   | Delivery Systems(ENDS)   | Delivery Systems(ENDS)   | 2017-18                 | 2017-18    |
|--------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|------------|
| HS Code                  | Country of import | Qty reported (Pcs/Sets)  | Value in $               | Qty reported (Pcs/Sets) | Value in $ |
| 85437099                 | CHINA P RP        | 9380                     | 21199.85                 | 19543                   | 35618.18   |
| 85437099                 | U S A             | 253                      | 2744.25                  | 42                      | 1352.37    |
| 85437099                 | HONG KONG         | 10                       | 126.11                   | -                       | -          |
| 85437099                 | GERMANY           | 118                      | 1728.98                  | -                       | -          |
| Total                    | Total             | 9761                     | 25799.19                 | 19585                   | 36970.55   |