Haryana police to launch special drive against e-cigarettes

The Haryana Police launched a special drive to keep a check on the availability and usage of e-cigarettes and all other forms of electronic nicotine delivery systems across the state. Commissioners of Police and District Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure enforcement of provisions of the Centre’s recent ordinance prohibiting e-cigarettes in their respective jurisdictions.

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In September, the Centre had issued an ordinance to ban e-cigarettes, making the production, import, export, transport, sale or advertisements of such “alternative” smoking devices a cognizable offence attracting jail terms and fines.

During the drive, which would last up to December 10, police will take necessary measures for proper implementation of the provisions of the Ordinance. Extra vigil will be ensured to prevent the use of such banned products in schools, colleges and other educational institutions.

The Central government had in September prohibited e-cigarettes through promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement) Ordinance, 2019.

Electronic cigarette:

E-cigarette is a handheld battery-powered vaporizer that simulates smoking and provides some of the behavioral aspects of smoking, including the hand-to-mouth action of smoking, but without burning tobacco. E-cigarette users who use devices that contain nicotine are exposed to its potentially harmful effects. Nicotine is associated with cardiovascular disease, possible birth defects etc.