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An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, refers to an electronic device that heats any substance (regardless of whether it has nicotine or any flavour) to create an aerosol that can be inhaled.
E-cigarettes used to be unregulated in India till 2019. However, they were later declared illegal.
Under the law, the following is banned:
Production/manufacture of e-cigarettes
It is illegal for you to produce or manufacture e-cigarettes1. If you do not follow this, the punishment is jail time of up to 1 year and/or a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. However, for every subsequent offence, the punishment is jail time of up to 3 years and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakhs.2
Import/export/transport of e-cigarettes
It is illegal for you to export, import or transport e-cigarettes3 If you do not follow this, the punishment is jail time of up to 1 year. You may also have to pay a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. However, for every subsequent offence, the punishment is jail time of up to 3 years and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakhs.4
Sale/distribution of e-cigarettes
It is illegal for you to sell or distribute e-cigarettes1. If you do not follow this, the punishment is jail time of up to 1 year. You may also have to pay a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. However, for every subsequent offence, the punishment is jail time of up to 3 years and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakhs.2
Advertisement of e-cigarettes
It is illegal for you to advertise e-cigarettes1. If you do not follow this, the punishment is jail time of up to 1 year. You may also have to pay a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. However, for every subsequent offence, the punishment is jail time of up to 3 years and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakhs.2
Storage of e-cigarettes
You may not allow any of your property to be used for storage of e-cigarettes. If any property that you own is being used as storage of e-cigarettes, you must make a list of the stock. Thereafter, you must submit it to the nearest police station to a police officer who is at least a sub-inspector5. If you do not follow this, the punishment is jail time of up to 6 months and/or a fine of up to Rs. 50,000.6
Read more on cigarettes and tobacco products here.
- Section 4, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019. [↩] [↩] [↩]
- Section 7, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019. [↩] [↩] [↩]
- Section 4, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019 [↩]
- Section 7, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019. [↩]
- Section 5, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019. [↩]
- Section 8, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019. [↩]
