Note4students
Mains Paper 2: Governance | Issues relating to development & management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Electronic nicotine delivery systems, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Food Safety and Standards Act, Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)
Mains level: Efforts to limit usage of tobacco
Legal provisions sought to impose a ban on electronic cigarettes
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sought the opinion of the state’s law and judiciary department on what legal provisions it can invoke to impose a ban on electronic cigarettes
- The move comes after the regulatory body found it can neither term vaping devices as a ‘drug’ nor as a ‘food through which it can enforce such a ban
About E-cigarettes
- E-cigarettes, also called electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), were invented in 2003
- The hand-held device uses liquid nicotine or non-nicotine solution to inhale and give similar effects of smoking
No law to control usage
- In 2016, the Maharashtra FDA had sought the opinion of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regarding e-cigarettes
- DCGI had decided that e-cigarettes would not be controlled under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
- DCGI does not consider liquid nicotine a new drug
- FDA then internally asked its food department to consider vaping devices as a food product to attract ban under the Food Safety and Standards Act
- The smoke inhaled cannot be considered a food product, just like cigarettes
Rising risk of usage by youngsters
- The latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) found that although e-cigarettes consumption was much lower, it was becoming increasingly popular amongst youngsters
- Studies have suggested that liquid nicotine may be toxic and e-cigarettes can become a gateway towards smoking for youngsters