Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 20
Anticipating a legal challenge to the ordinance banning electronic nicotine delivery systems in India, including e-cigarettes, the government today filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure it is heard if any petition is filed against the move.
The Health Ministry filed the caveat this morning. Government sources said they were ready with the defence and sure of winning any battle against e-cigarettes which are currently imported.
Top global manufacturers of ENDS and vaping devices, mainly electronic cigarettes are Philip Morris International and Juul. Both will lose a major market with India’s move to ban ENDS.
“India is the youngest country in the world and several e-cigarette lobbies stand disturbed by our ban. Tobacco industry is likely to mount a legal challenge, but we are ready,” sources said.
Expected lines of challenge are: why has the Indian Government banned ENDS when it has not banned cigarettes and why should Centre deny individuals the choice of “safer alternatives to cigarettes.” Meanwhile, the WHO today congratulated India for the move.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2Ihsouo
via Today’s News Headlines
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