According to a memorandum issued by Reuters, India Ministry of Commerce and Industry said there was no legal basis for banning imports of electronic cigarettes by India Directorate General of Health Services, Inc42 Media reported.
In February 2019, the DGHS issued an order banning the sale, manufacture, distribution, trade, import and advertising of electronic cigarettes and vapes.
DGHS also advised states and government agencies to step up efforts to stop the sale and import of such products, warning the vapes have huge health risks.
India Ministry of Commerce and Industry objects the decision of DGHS firmly after the order was issued.
Currently, India has 120 million smokers and 1 million people die from tobacco-related diseases every year. Lack of public health care and its annual economic losses exceed 1 billion rupees ($14 billion) due to the pure health burden of smoking in the country.
