·
Highlights
that the Government of India has sought to ban through an Ordinance a safer
alternative to traditional cigarettes – an alternative that should be available
to over 85 lakh smokers in Tamil Nadu
·
Urge
Government of Tamil Nadu to act in best interests of its
citizens by asking the Centre to allow the state health department to undertake
an independent study to evaluate this emerging category that over 70 countries
regulate rather than ban
In
view of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s recent move to place
the Ordinance bill to ban E-cigarettes in India in the public domain for
feedback, TRENDS, the voluntary association of Trade Representatives of
ENDS in India – a group of importers, distributors, and marketers of Electronic
Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) devices has written to the Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu requesting him to evaluate for himself what is in the best interests of
the citizens of the state.
In their letter to Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami , Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, TRENDS pointed out that Union Health Ministry did
not undertake any research, study or comparative assessment of risks associated
with different methods of tobacco intake by Indians in all the years it has
been sending advisories to states to ban E-cigarettes. Hence, they have
depended on data from the US to justify the Ordinance Bill to ban E-cigarettes
in India.
Praveen Rikhy, Convenor, TRENDS made a plea to the Chief Minister Thiru Edappadi K.
Palaniswami, saying, “We would
request you, as the leader of the State of Tamil Nadu to ask the Central Government to allow your State Health department to
conduct their own research and study so that a rational decision that benefits
the maximum number of people of the state, can be taken.”
She added, “Health is a state subject and the immense cost of
diseases connected to tobacco consumption falls on the State exchequer. After
all, if there is a safer alternative to cigarette smoking, which cuts cancer
incidence by 50%, why should your state not offer the option to smokers In the State of Tamil Nadu, the
statistics for tobacco consumption is quite alarming, with overall tobacco
users (15 years and above) at 20 % and smokers at 10.5 %.”
TRENDS pointed out that E-Cigarettes could be a solution for both –
smokers who want to move to a less harmful option, and the State which profits
from lower health costs and better mortality rates.
TRENDS pointed out to the CM that the bill by the Union Health Ministry
to bring about a ban on E-Cigarettes is based on ‘selective sourcing of
scientific and medical opinion’ and without holding a single stakeholder
meeting is nothing short of a complete murder of democratic norms. 62 world
renowned Doctors and Scientists, including Dr. Atul Ambekar of AIIMS, refuted
each of the 4 claims that the ICMR proposed and based its recommendation to ban
E-cigarettes.
Ø
70 countries
have regulated the E-cigarette category to allow access to adult smokers with
safeguards relating to manner of sale, manufacturing, distribution, use,
product design including e-liquid ingredients, advertising, promotion,
trademarks, health warning labels and child-safety standards. [just 28
countries currently ban of which many are considering regulating e.g. UAE which
lifted ban recently]
Ø
There has been
a stark decline in smoking rates wherever E-Cigarettes have been regulated (US,
UK, France and many others)
Ø
Leading
Government and Public Health bodies deem E-Cigarettes as
significantly safer than traditional cigarettes (Public Health England, Cancer
Research UK, Royal College of Physicians, Santé Publique France and many others)
TRENDS concluded
with a request to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru Edappadi K.
Palaniswami
to use his good offices to ask the Centre, particularly the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for a due diligence on the possible
impact on public health, state exchequer, farmer and trade employment and adult
consumers before taking a final decision for adopting the bill to ban
E-cigarettes in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.
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