Lok Sabha Question No. 496 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vijay Kumar Dubey, Santosh Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 496 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH JULY , 2019 ELECTRONIC NICOTINE DELIVERY DEVICES

## *496. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY: SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  HEALTH  AND  FAMILY  WELFARE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  considers  Electronic  Nicotine  Delivery  Devic (ENDS) comprising e - cigarettes as harmful as regular cigarette smoking despite low hea lth impact cited by many authorised agencies, if so, the details ther the specific reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  some  States/UTs  have  banned  e - cigarettes  and  not  regular  tobacco cigarettes, hookah or other methods of nicotine consumption given their ha effects,  particularly  the  North - Eastern  States,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and reasons therefor ;
- (c) whether the Government is acting upon the request for a balanced and equ policy approach raised in August 2017, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  details  of  Indian/International  research  or  medical  institutions'  validation which is consid ered as an authority on the subject; and
- (e) the manner in which the Government proposes to address the issue of i trade and black marketing of ENDS in the absence of proper guidelines in regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 496* FOR 26 TH JULY , 2019

(a)to (e):

Considering that the cartridges used in ENDS, besides containing liquid nic are  known  to  contain  many  other  harmful  chemical  components  such  as flavourants and other carcinogens; and that there is still lack of scientifi to conclusively sug gest that ENDS are less harmful; and keeping in view of th risks of initiation of ENDS especially by young population resultin undermining of country's tobacco control efforts, this Ministry issued an Advisory to States / UTs on 28 th August, 2018 aski ng them to ensure that any Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including e - cigarettes and the like devices that enable  nicotine  delivery  are  not  sold  (including  online  sale),  manufac distributed,  traded,  imported  and  advertised  in  their  juris dictions,  except  for  the purpose & in the manner and to the extent, as may be approved under the Dr and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder.

Subsequently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, the  apex  body  of  the  Governmen t  of  India  with  the  mandates  for  formulation, coordination  and  promotion  of  biomedical  research; conduct,  coordination  and implementation  medical  research  for  the  benefit of  the  Society  and  translating medical innovations in to products/processes and recommending their introduc into  the  public  health  system,  has  released  'White  Paper  on  Electron ic Nicotine Delivery  System'  which  recommends  complete  prohibition  on  ENDS  or  e -cigarettes in India in the greater interest of protecting public health, in with the precautionary principle of protecting population from a noxious subs

The State Governments of Punjab, Karnataka, Mizoram, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Maharashtra,  Tamil  Nadu,  Jharkhand,  Himacha Pradesh,  Puducherry,  Rajasthan,  Meghalaya , Odisha and  Nagalandhave  so  far prohibited the Electronic Nicotine Deliv ery Systems (ENDS). Any sale of ENDS in  such  States/UTs  is  not  permissible.  Health  being  a  State  subject enforcement against illicit trade and black marketing of ENDS is the respons of the concerned State / UT Government.

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