INDIA
The Council for Harm Reduced Alternatives (CHRA) and the Association of Vapers India (AVI) warned the central and state governments that a ban on e-cigarettes would deprive millions of smokers of safer choices and cause damage to public health.
CHRA said it is unfortunate that the government is mulling banning e-cigarettes, “which are 95% less harmful compared to tobacco cigarettes”, even as it promotes harm-reduction programs in interventions on addiction and communicable diseases.
AVI director, Pratik Gupta, said, “The idea of banning e-cigarettes is premature, given that no study has been conducted by our health organizations on the health impact of vaping. Meanwhile, multiple peer-reviewed scientific studies in the UK and elsewhere have convinced health experts and governments to encourage smokers to switch to vaping. The hurry to ban e-cigarettes gov’t targets is not understandable.”
“E-cigarettes are not only less harmful compared to tobacco cigarettes, but also help smokers wean off the nicotine dependence,” he added.