Lok Sabha Question No. 1245 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: International Regulatory Approaches for e-Cigarettes
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1245 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH FEBRUARY, 2026

## INTERNATIONALREGULATORY APPROACHES FOR e-CIGARETTES

## 1245 SHRI TANGELLAUDAY SRINIVAS:

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

- (a) whether the Government has examined or compiled information on international regulatory approaches for products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, including the number of countries regulating them under adult-only access frameworks and the manner in which such regulations differ from those for conventional cigarettes;
- (b) the details of countries that have shifted from prohibition to regulation and the scientific studies, public-health risk assessments and epidemiological evidence considered in such decisions;
- (c) the key outcomes observed in these countries, including changes in adult and youth usage, illicit trade, enforcement outcomes and public-health indicators as compared to cigarette use;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to undertake a comparative and evidence-based assessment of global experiences to inform policymaking in India; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e): The Ministry enacted Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019 to prohibit the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes and similar devices, which are harmful and has potential for initiating tobacco use amongst youth.

As per the White Paper by Indian Council of Medical Research on Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), 2019, the use of ENDS or e-cigarettes adversely affects almost all the human body systems with impact across the life course, from the womb to tomb. Some of the major impacts of ENDS or e-cigarettes are as under:

-  The cartridges used in ENDS or e-cigarettes are filled with liquid nicotine, flavoring agents and other chemicals. A typical cartridge contains about as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes and can act as a potential source for nicotine addiction.
-  Furthermore, the amount of nicotine and other chemicals in these products varies widely, and thus, the consumer remains unaware of the actual contents of the products they use.
-  The flavoring agents used in e-cigarettes to attract consumers can adversely affect the health of the users due to their cytotoxic effect, which has been demonstrated by various studies.
-  ENDS can adversely affect pregnant women, whether they are users or exposed to passive aerosol. It also poses risks to foetal, infant, and child brain development.
-  E-cigarette use adversely affects the cardiovascular system, impairs respiratory, immune cell function and airways in a way similar to cigarette smoking and is responsible for severe respiratory disease.
-  Human bronchial cells grown in a medium-exposed to e-cigarette aerosol have shown a similar pattern of gene expression to those grown in a medium-exposed to tobacco smoke. Such exposure induces DNA damage and cell death independently of nicotine in cell lines.
-  Studies on these nicotine solvents had shown a varied degree of release of potential carcinogens, which includes acetaldehyde, formaldehyde and acetone, depending on the battery output voltage. The liquid-vaporizing solutions also contain toxic chemicals and metals that have been demonstrated to be responsible for several adverse health effects, including cancers and diseases of the heart, lungs and brain.

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