Traders' body CAIT opposes ban on e-cigarettes
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) As government prepares to ban the production and sale of e-cigarettes on health grounds, the Delhi-based traders’ lobby group Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has opposed the move saying it will encourage smuggling.
It has argued that vaping cigarettes have become a choice of the youth now and hence instead of banning it government should come out with rules such as minimum age criteria for selling the product.
E-cigarettes or “vaping” are often marketed as a harmless product to help addicts to quit smoking.
Health Ministry has proposed to make THE production, sale and consumption of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including e-cigarettes, Heat-Not-Burn devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and the like devices citing health grounds.
The Ministry has also proposed an ordinance to effect complete ban in the country. Violation of the law would attract a fine and jail term. “Ban is not a solution. Setting a higher age criteria for buying could be a better option,” Khandelwal said.
Earlier, the Gujarat Tobacco Merchants Association (GTMA) and Gujarat Tobacco Growers and Merchants Association (GTGMA) had appealed the government to not ban e-cigarettes or other similar products arguing it will serve no purpose other than hurting the tobacco industry.
–IANS
nk/ksk
The post Traders’ body CAIT opposes ban on e-cigarettes appeared first on NP News24.