NEW DELHI: E-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) like vape, e-Sheesha and e-hookah may soon face a ban in the country.

The government's top drug advisory body - Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) - has approved a proposal to prohibit manufacture, sale, distribution and import of all ENDS products citing potential risk to public health, mainly non-smokers, a top official source said.

The decision comes in the wake of latest recommendations by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as well as observations from the expert committee constituted by the health ministry to examine the issue.

The council cited scientific data that shows ENDS contain nicotine which is highly addictive and harmful for health.

The move also assumes significance because it can block plans of various multinational companies selling e-cigarettes and other such products to foray in the Indian market. "DTAB has evaluated the evidence, studied the recommendations in detail and have arrived at a decision that ENDS should be banned immediately as they can pose serious risk to public health as well as a threat government's anti-tobacco measures," the official told TOI.

The proposal now needs a final approval from the health minister before it is notified by the ministry.

