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Cigarettes
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
India Background
Profile
India Flag
Cigarettes
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2024.   Page updated: 2025-04-01

In India, e-cigarettes are subject to stringent regulations. The overall regulatory status of e-cigarettes is classified as banned. The law enforces a complete ban on all forms of advertising related to these products. It is illegal to sell e-cigarette devices and nicotine, both online and in physical stores. Moreover, it is prohibited to import e-cigarette devices or nicotine for trade, and purchasing these products for personal use, whether online or through other means, is banned by law.

Product promotion

Yes
2 A
2022
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 Yes 2A A
2020 Yes B
2022 Yes 2B
References:
  1. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=94. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
  2. Banned at place of sale and banned in all media
Comments:
  1. Banned at place of sale and banned in all media.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed 1A A
2019 Banned 1B
2022 Banned 1C
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf
  3. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=94. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
Comments:
  1. E-cigarette sales allowed except in 7 states - Bihar, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Mizoram, Jamma & Kashmir where ENDS are banned. Delhi & Maharashtra were also considering a ban. However recent advice from the Government Ministry of Welfare & Families issued in August 2018, advised all states to prohibit sales, import and advertisement of ecigarettes.
No
2
2023
No
2
2023
No
2
2023
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=94. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
  2. Tobacco Control Laws. India details. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/india/summary. Accessed 22 March 2025.

Availability

No
1
2022
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 No 2A
2024 No 2B
References:
  1. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. VAPING PRODUCTS. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
No
3
2019
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2019 No 1A
2022 No 1B
References:
  1. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=94. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2019 No 3A
References:
  1. MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. Available at: https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf. Accessed: 30 March 2025.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2019 No 1A
2022 No 1B
References:
  1. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=94. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2019 No 3A
References:
  1. MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. Available at: https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf. Accessed: 30 March 2025.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2019 No 3A
References:
  1. MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. Available at: https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf. Accessed: 30 March 2025.
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=94. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. VAPING PRODUCTS. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 21 March 2025.
  3. MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. Available at: https://ntcp.mohfw.gov.in/assets/document/The-Prohibition-of-Electronic-Cigarettes-Production-Manufacture-Import-Export-Transport-Sale-Distribution-Storage-and-Advertisement)-Act-2019.pdf. Accessed: 30 March 2025.

Regulations and restrictions

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2023 No 1A
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. India details. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/india/summary. Accessed 22 March 2025.
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. India details. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/india/summary. Accessed 22 March 2025.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.