The Indian government announced on Wednesday to ban electronic cigarettes in the country of 1.3 billion people, in the name of health imperatives and the fight against addictions.
"The decision was made with the impact that e-cigarettes have on youth today," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told a news conference. "It has become very fashionable to try them out, to use them," she added.
An order passed by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi prohibits the production, import or export, transportation, storage and sale of electronic cigarettes. A first offense is punishable by one year in prison and / or 100,000 rupees (1,270 euros) fine, up to 3 years and / or 500,000 rupees (6,300 euros) in case of recidivism.
Electronic cigarettes "undeniably harmful" according to WHO
This measure "will improve the policy of tobacco control, giving better results in terms of public health," the government said on the Twitter account of its press service.
The ban on electronic cigarettes in India comes after a ban by the US state of New York to market flavored electronic cigarettes on its territory. Electronic cigarettes, considered "undeniably harmful" in a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), have recently been facing regulatory tightening around the world, particularly in the United States.