Cabinet approves ordinance to ban e-cigarettes

New Delhi: The union cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to ban e-cigarettes and e-hookahs in the country.

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Briefing reporters after a meeting of union cabinet, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the decision has been taken to protect the health of citizens.

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Citing a study in the US, she said there had been 900 per cent growth in e-cigarettes between 2011 and 2015-16. 

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance 2019 has as penal provisions including imprisonment for first and repeat offence.

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Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, who was also present at the briefing, said it was a timely step and the proposal had come to the cabinet after due deliberation.

"This is a welcome step. Prevention is always better," he said. (ANI)

• #Nirmala Sitharaman
• #finance minister
• #E Cigarettes
• #e hookahs
• #smoking
• #Union Cabinet