India Retains Ban on E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products

Government Rejects Calls to Allow Heat-Not-Burn Devices

India has reaffirmed its decision to continue the nationwide prohibition on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, maintaining a regulatory stance first established in 2019. The clarification from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare rules out any immediate policy revision despite industry representations.

Regulatory Position

Authorities emphasised that the existing law explicitly covers heat-not-burn devices, which operate by heating processed tobacco rather than combusting it. The government’s approach reflects precautionary public health policy amid ongoing debates over the safety profile of alternative nicotine delivery systems.

India remains one of the world’s largest cigarette markets by volume, with tobacco-related diseases contributing significantly to national mortality. Policymakers have consistently prioritised population-level health risk reduction through strict regulation and cessation-focused strategies.

Industry Context

Philip Morris International , manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes, had identified India as a potential market for its heated tobacco device IQOS . The company advocates such products as reduced-risk alternatives, citing harm-reduction arguments. However, Indian regulators have declined requests for exemption or reconsideration.

Global Regulatory Debate

Internationally, regulatory responses vary. Some jurisdictions permit heated tobacco marketing with restrictions, while the World Health Organization continues to caution against potential health risks and urges robust tobacco control frameworks.

Policy Implications

India’s decision signals continuity in tobacco control policy, favouring prevention and cessation over the introduction of alternative nicotine technologies. The stance also illustrates broader tensions between harm-reduction advocacy and precautionary regulation.

Exam-Focused Points

• India imposed a ban on e-cigarettes & heated tobacco products (2019) .

• Heat-not-burn devices heat tobacco instead of burning .

• Tobacco regulation linked to public health objectives .

• WHO promotes tobacco control via the FCTC framework .

• Key law: COTPA, 2003 .