GA-RANE-E-CIGARETTES

Goa govt hails bill to ban electronic cigarettes
    Panaji, Dec 2 (PTI) Passage of the law banning
e-cigarettes will boost the Goa government's mission to make
state tobacco-free, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said
on Monday.
    Parliament on Monday passed a bill prohibiting the
production, trade, transport, storage and advertisement of
electronic cigarettes in the country.
    The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019,
was passed in Rajya Sabha with a voice vote. It was passed in
Lok Sabha earlier this month.
    "Rajya Sabha today paved the way for a ban on
e-cigarettes and passed the Prohibition of Electronic
Cigarettes Bill, 2019.
    "With the implementation of the said bill by the
central government, this decision will definitely boost our
mission of a tobacco-free Goa," Rane tweeted.
    The bill defines electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)
as electronic devices that heat a substance, which may contain
nicotine and other chemicals, to create vapour for inhalation.
    The bill provides for imprisonment of up to one year,
or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both to a first-time
violator.
    For any subsequent offence, it says that the crime
will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to three years,
along with a fine of up to five lakh rupees. PTI CORR RPS
NSK NSK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)