6 PECA Violations Reported in Telangana from 2021-2025: Health Ministry
The half a dozen cases were among the total 384 cases registered in various States in the country from 2021 to 2025.
Hyderabad: Half a dozen violations related to Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA)-2019 were reported in Telangana from 2021 to 2025, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).
These cases were among the total 384 cases registered in various States in the country from 2021 to 2025. Maharashtra topped the list registering the highest number of 229 cases under PECA followed by Madhya Pradesh with 37 cases and Gujarat with 31 cases. Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka registered 19 cases each.
As per Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Custom officials in Customs Field Formations and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) keep constant vigil and take operational measures.
These measures were taken based on intelligence and passenger profiling with the aid of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), risk-based interdiction and targeting and non- intrusive inspection like baggage and container scanning for purposes of thwarting smuggling of e-cigarettes.
Field formations of CBIC were regularly sensitized to newer methods of smuggling by way of issuing an alert or modus operandi circulars. On detection of contraband smuggling cases, action is taken in accordance with Customs Act-1962 including seizure of smuggled e-cigarettes, arrest and prosecution of the persons involved.
The Ministry conducts the annual tobacco free youth campaign to raise awareness about the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction among youth from 2023. One of the key strategies of the campaign is the rigorous enforcement of tobacco control laws, including PECA-2019.
The Ministry has launched a portal to report online violations of Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act-2019 and Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA)-2003 for reporting of sale or advertisement of electronic cigarettes online, including on e-commerce platforms, websites etc.
This was stated by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, while replying to a question raised by MP Swati Maliwal in Rajya Sabha recently.
To prohibit the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic-cigarettes and like devices the MoH&FW has enacted PECA-2019. It issued advisories to all States and UTs, to ensure the effective compliance of PECA-2019, he added.