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It was earlier reported that the Modi Government is planning to introduce an ordinance soon to ban the manufacture, sale, and import of ENDS devices, including e-cigarettes.

Now, more details of the Union Health Ministry's proposal has emerged. Reuters which accessed an internal note reported that Health officials are proposing jail terms of up to three years, with a penalty of up to 500,000 rupees for repeat offenders against the new rules.

First-time offenders would face a prison term of up to one year and a fine of 100,000 rupees. 

“E-cigarettes and similar technologies that encourage tobacco use or adversely impact public health are hazardous for an active as well as passive user,”

the draft proposal of the health ministry said. The health ministry also argued that e-cigarettes can also be used as delivery devices for other substances such as cannabis, and could promote dual-use with conventional cigarettes.

“These devices are injurious to health and proliferation of these products has a negative impact on public health,” the draft said.

“These devices are injurious to health and proliferation of these products has a negative impact on public health,” the draft said.Earlier, it was reported that the government is mulling to bring an ordinance to ban ENDS devices if it fails to get a reprieve from the Delhi High Court, which had earlier stayed its order to ban such products, sources said.Banning such alternative smoking devices like e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, vape, and e-nicotine flavoured hookah, among others is one of the priorities of the Health Ministry as part of the first 100 days agenda of the second term of the Modi government.

The ministry’s plans would deal a blow to U.S.-based Juul Labs Inc, which is hoping to launch its e-cigarette in India and has hired several senior executives in recent months.Philip Morris also has plans to launch its heat-not-burn smoking device in India, Reuters has reported.Advocates for the devices say e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking tobacco because users do not inhale the same dangerous matter.But many tobacco-control activists are opposed to e-cigarettes, saying they could lead to nicotine addiction and push people to consume tobacco.

"There is evidence that these products are a gateway to tobacco products and induce adolescents and young adults to nicotine use leading to addiction,” the health ministry said in the document.

India has 106 million adult smokers, second only to China in the world, making it a lucrative market for firms such as Juul and Philip Morris. More than 900,000 people die each year in the country due to tobacco-related illnesses.

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