• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Sci-tech

No vaping ban U-turn, says Indian official, as protests fizzle

29 September 2019, 10:17 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
India banned the sale and import of e-cigarettes this month, warning of an "epidemic" of vaping among young people.

India banned the sale and import of e-cigarettes this month, warning of an "epidemic" of vaping among young people.

Image: Reuters

India banned the sale and import of e-cigarettes this month, warning of an "epidemic" of vaping among young people.

India’s government has no plan to roll back a ban on electronic cigarettes, an official told Reuters on Saturday, as protests against the move by vapers in six cities drew scant support.

India banned the sale and import of e-cigarettes this month, warning of an “epidemic” of vaping among young people.

The action has affected users nation wide and the plans of international companies including Juul Labs Inc and Philip Morris International, as well as triggering court challenges by local firms.

Protesters convened on Saturday to call for vaping devices to be regulated rather than prohibited. But organisers Association of Vapers India said only about 400 people turned up across six cities, adding that some opponents of the ban feared being targeted by police.

At one protest in the capital New Delhi, several people used vaping devices. Among them sat a child with a poster that read:”I don’t want my dad to be a smoker”.

The government argues the ban is essential to protect people as vaping can lead to nicotine addiction and push users towards consuming tobacco. Vapers say the devices help them stay away from more harmful tobacco cigarettes.

More than 900 000 people die each year due to tobacco-related illnesses in India, the government estimates.But the country has 106 million adult smokers, second only to China, making it a lucrative potential market for companies selling both tobacco and vaping products.

An Indian health ministry official said the government was determined to stick by its ban, despite the protests and court challenges. “There is no question of a rollback or anything like that,” the official said.

Two court challenges that could be pivotal for whether the ban can continue to be enforced are under way in the eastern city of Kolkata, including one by e-cigarette importer Plume Vapour.

The company, in a court filing seen by Reuters, argues that the ban will allow cigarette companies to flourish while putting e-cigarette firms out of business.

New Delhi protester Aryaman Chaudhary, 25, said he stocked up on vape refills ahead of the ban, but was worried he would eventually run out. “I just want this regulated, not banned …Everybody has an addiction.”

Share article
Tags: IndiaE-cigarettesElectronic CigarettesVaping
Previous Post

L’Oreal celebrates female empowerment with glamorous runway show

Next Post

Afghanistan holds presidential polls amid fears of insecurity, fraud

Related Posts

New born baby in hospital.

South Africa sees alarming spike in Fetal Alcohol Disorder rate

11 September 2023, 8:25 AM
Prof Bruce Mellado, chair of the local organising committee interacts with media ahead of the TIPP conference. The event brings together specialists from around the world to share best practice on Technology in Instrumentation and Particle Physics.

TIPP conference in Cape Town focusses on technological advancements

5 September 2023, 12:00 PM
FILE PHOTO - An internet cable is seen at a server room in this picture illustration taken in Warsaw January 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

INFOGRAPHIC: All you need to know about the SA undersea broken internet cables

18 August 2023, 7:21 PM
Logo of SiyaTutor, an AI-driven WhatsApp-based tutor chatbot designed to assist school learners in their educational journey.

WhatsApp combines AI in SiyaTutor for personalised learning

13 August 2023, 1:31 PM
FILE PHOTO: Twitter logo and a photo of Elon Musk are displayed through magnifier in this illustration taken October 27, 2022.

Elon Musk says Twitter’s blue bird to be replaced by an X

24 July 2023, 9:28 AM
Meta's Threads app and Twitter logos are seen in this illustration taken July 4, 2023.

Zuckerberg-Musk fights first round: Meta launches ‘Twitter Killer’ Threads app

6 July 2023, 7:29 AM
Next Post
An election official checks voter's documents at a polling station in Kabul, Afghanistan September 28, 2019.

Afghanistan holds presidential polls amid fears of insecurity, fraud

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Concern over exclusion of foreign nationals from Road Accident Fund
  • Cashless taxi service launched in Cape Town
  • Visitors planning to visit the Overberg region urged to postpone their trips
  • ANC building up in flames in Port St Johns
  • Western Cape on high alert following severe storm warning
  • High waves and rough water conditions force beach closures in the Western Cape
  • Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to rest in the town he built and nurtured
  • NSPCA files criminal case against Julius Malema for alleged animal cruelty
  • Snow, heavy rainfall expected in parts of KZN: SAWS
  • Cold-front sweeps across SA bringing snow and chilly temperatures
  • Six beaches in Durban flagged with high levels of E.coli
  • Eight killed due to electrocutions during heavy rains in Western Cape
  • Rescue efforts to resume on Wednesday for learners trapped at Oudtshoorn resort
  • KZN coastal areas on high alert as level 4 inclement weather warning issued
  • BRICS Parliamentary Forum aims to foster stronger ties among member states

LATEST

A chart on how to save water.
  • South Africa

NGO raises awareness on water conservation in KZN schools


Russian ship Lady R
  • South Africa

 Lady R vessel investigation within the law: Magwenya


A person holds a stop corruption board during a march
  • South Africa

SA heading towards a failed state if corruption is not addressed: PSC


[FILE IMAGE] A police vehicle on patrol
  • Politics

FF Plus calls for cleaning up of the police service


Zoleka Mandela
  • South Africa

INFOGRAPHIC | Zoleka Mandela’s life


Post Office at a mall
  • South Africa

Community of Lamontville sign petition to stop closure of local Post Office


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous L’Oreal celebrates female empowerment with glamorous runway show
Next Afghanistan holds presidential polls amid fears of insecurity, fraud