New Delhi (Agency): The Indian Union Health Ministry has issued notices to 15 websites that are selling e-cigarettes, a product that is banned in the country. The Ministry ordered these websites to cease advertising and selling the product, according to official sources.
They revealed that an additional six websites are being closely monitored, and similar notices may be dispatched to them. Moreover, the ministry is scrutinizing the promotion and sale of e-cigarettes on social media platforms.
An official shared with a news agency, that out of the 15 websites that received the “takedown notice”, four have ceased operations, while the rest have yet to respond.
“If they don’t respond and comply with the law, the health ministry will write to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for taking down these websites. Legal action will also be taken against these websites accordingly,” the official added.
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, which prohibits the production, sale, and advertising of e-cigarettes, was enacted in 2019.
The Health Ministry’s notice to the websites declared that the online advertisement and sale of illegal e-cigarettes contravenes Section 4 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. Under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the websites are directed to disable access and remove any information related to the product.
The notice warned that non-compliance could result in penalties under the IT Act and/or the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act.
Websites were given 36 hours to respond to the notice. “Four of the 15 online entities have responded and shut down their operations. We are still waiting for the remaining to respond, failing which further action will be initiated,” the official stated.
The Health Ministry had already expressed concern about the availability of e-cigarettes online and from local vendors, and wrote to all states and Union Territories in February to ensure strict compliance with the ban. They noted instances where e-cigarettes were sold near educational institutions, making them easily accessible to children.
In May, the ministry issued a public notice for stricter enforcement of the Act and directed all entities involved in the production or sale of e-cigarettes, including online platforms and social media, to abide by the regulations.