Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K K Shailaja on Thursday issued directions to ban electronic cigarettes in the state in the wake of studies showing that these products cause cancer and heart ailments. The minister asked Additional Chief Secretary (Health) to issue immediate orders banning the production, sale, distribution and advertisement of e cigarette. There were reports that cigarette sales had increased in the state targeting the youth and even children.
E cigarettes were being used for taking ganja, hashish and various other drugs and toxic substances. The use of e cigarettes among children was gradually pushing them to smoking and psychotropic substances. The studies carried out in America and Japan had pointed to e cigarette causing cancer and heart diseases. E cigarette which is made of plastic is operated with a battery.
E cigarettes are coming into the market through courier services, online trading agencies and outlets selling unauthorised foreign goods. The expert committee constituted by the Central Government in 2014 to look into the dangers of e cigarettes had recommended immediate ban on the product. IMA had also recommended that use of e cigarettes should be discouraged.
