India has become a leer in global fight against a youth e-cigarette epidemic by taking a "historic" decision to ban such nicotine and tobacco products, a US-based top vocacy group has said. government on Wednesday banned production, import, and sale of e-cigarettes and similar products, citing health risk to people, especially youth. An ordinance will be brought in to make it an offence, entailing jail term of up to three years as well as fine.

decision was taken by Union Cabinet heed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Matw L Myers said India's decision to ban sale, manufacture, import, and vertising of e-cigarettes nationwide was a "bold effort" to protect youth from risk of nicotine diction. He praised government for taking such decisive action to prevent a youth e-cigarette epidemic in India.

RE | Government anunces total ban on e-cigarettes in India; details here

verse effects of Nicotine

rapid introduction of e-cigarettes in countries around world poses new challenges to governments dedicated to protecting youth and reducing tobacco use.

"Today, in a historic step, government of India has banned sale, manufacture, import, and vertising of e-cigarettes nationwide as part of a bold effort to protect youth from risk of nicotine diction. "Today's ban is historic for India and world as India becomes a leer in fight to prevent a youth e-cigarette epidemic," campaign said in a statement on Wednesday.

use of e-cigarettes by youth presents serious concerns as use of nicotine in any form is unsafe, causes diction, and can harm olescent brain development, Myers said. In United States, e-cigarette use has soared to epidemic levels thanks to marketing tactics of companies like Juul and widespre availability of e-cigarette flavours like mango, mint, and bubblegum, he said. From social media influencers to celebrity endorsements, marketing tactics of e-cigarette makers are straight from playbook of Big Tobacco, Myres said. se tactics are exposing an entirely new generation of youth to dictive products and threaten to undo deces of progress in curbing tobacco use, he said, ding that governments around world cant wait to take action on e-cigarettes. Myres said all countries must take effective action to prevent e-cigarette use among young people and keep se products from undermining global efforts to drive down tobacco use.

RE | Congress condescends Centre's E-cigarettes ban, calls it 'big bang'

RE | E-Cigarettes banned, and t just use; manufacturing and sale too