In a move to discourage the public from consuming tobacco products, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday banned the sale of e-cigarettes in the state with immediate effect.

A  statement issued by Directorate of Health Services Kashmir stated that “A complete ban has been imposed on the sale (including online sale), manufacture, distribution, trade, import and advertisement of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)/ e-cigarettes in the state with immediate effect."

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are handheld electronic devices that contain a liquid which when heated form vapours that the user inhales to get the feeling of smoking tobacco. The liquid is usually made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine and flavourings.

Nicotine produced by the tobacco plant is highly addictive. Short and long term exposure to nicotine has been proved to be dangerous to health.

Director Health Services Dr. Saleem ur Rehman said that a circular to ban e-cigarettes was issued to discourage the consumption of tobacco products by the public, especially the younger generation of the state.

Jammu and Kashmir is the fifth state in the country to implement such ban complying with the number of anti-tobacco measures which the government had initiated.

The state also has a Tobacco Control Cell which is responsible for overall planning, implementation and monitoring of different activities and achievement falling under National Tobacco Control Programme.