India
India’s parliament has passed a bill that prohibits the production, trade, transport, storage, and advertisement of e-cigarettes in the country.
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019, was passed in Rajya Sabha with a voice vote and passed in Lok Sabha. This new law will replace an earlier ordinance to ban e-cigarettes.
The new bill defines e-cigarettes as electronic devices that heat a substance, which may contain nicotine and other chemicals, to create vapor for inhalation. Under this law, first-time violators may be subject to imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to INR100,000, or both. Subsequent offenses will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of up to INR500,000.
The new bill also prohibits the storage of any stock of e-cigarettes. Violators will be imprisoned for up to six months or slapped with a fine of up to INR50,000, or both.