India:
Back to country profile
Quick links to detailed datasheets for India
Cigarettes E-cigarettes Snus Pouches HTP NRT
Data sourced: 2020.   Page updated: 2024-02-21

In 2019, India enacted the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 which banned a broad category of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and Heat Not Burn (HNB) products. The Act to prohibit the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement. There are no restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes.

Product promotion

Yes
A
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 Yes 0A A
2020 Yes B
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
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
Comments:
  1. Banned at place of sale and banned in all media.
  2. Banned at place of sale and banned in all media

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
1001 Allowed 1A A
2019 Banned 1B
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
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
2019
No
2
2019
No
2
2019
Yes
3 A
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. India Details | Tobacco Control Laws. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/india/summary.
  3. 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/
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.

Availability

No
1
2019
No
1
2019
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

Regulations and restrictions

Year Value Reference/Comment
1001 Yes
2019 No 1A
References:
  1. India Details | Tobacco Control Laws. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/india/summary.
References:
  1. India Details | Tobacco Control Laws. https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/india/summary.
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.