| Summary: | Aim and objective
E-cigarettes are highly addicting products. It is mostly being used by children and youth because these are glamorised by the tobacco industry. They are widely promoted and sold through E commerce. Sales are increasing sharply all over the world. These products are unapproved under Drugs and Cosmetics Act of India. Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, J&K, Mizoram etc. have already declared these products as unapproved for sale.
Methods
An online poll to facilitate line of action by Government of India to deal with E-Cigarettes was conducted from 21/3/18 to 30/3/18. National and International public health specialists, State Nodal Officers National Tobacco Control Programme, health administrators, psychiatrists and eminent doctors were requested to participate in the online poll.
Results
571 persons participated in the online poll. Out of these 364 people (63.75%) were in favour of banning the manufacturing and sale, 94 (16.46 %) in favour of regulating under Anti-Tobacco/ Nicotine Laws, 59 (10.33%) in favour of providing guidelines to manufactures for self-regulation and the rest 54(9.46 %) wanted it's sale to be regulated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act for Cessation purpose.
Conclusions
An overwhelming majority of Public health specialists and others who participated in the online poll are of the opinion that Ministry of health should deal with growing menace of E-Cigarettes by banning the manufacturing and its sale. This line of action by the Government of India will open the way for other countries to declare these products as unapproved.
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