Illegal Sale of E-cigarettes Persists in Lucknow Despite Ban

According to a report by Hindustan Times on February 18, despite the ban on production, sale, import, export, transportation, and promotion of e-cigarettes in India having taken effect, the devices are still openly being sold.

The Indian government banned the sale of e-cigarettes on September 18, 2019, but vendors continue to sell these products through small shops and grocery stores. According to an investigation by the Hindustan Times, there are quite a few shops not only selling e-cigarettes, but also offering home delivery services, easily bypassing legal restrictions. During a field investigation in Lucknow Division in Indira from February 15th to 16th, Hindustan Times found at least four to five shops openly selling e-cigarettes, where the shop owners introduce and sell various flavors of e-cigarettes and disposable e-cigarettes ranging from 6,000 to 30,000 puffs.

A vendor at Janpath Market said that he can deliver e-cigarettes across the city for no extra charge. It is reported that 6,000 puffs of e-cigarettes are priced at 1,400 rupees (16 USD), while 30,000 are 2,400 rupees (28 USD). Multiple flavors are available, and discreet delivery is even possible upon request.

Another vendor is selling e-cigarettes with a starting capacity of 10,000 puffs for 1,600 rupees (18 USD) and is offering home delivery services. However, he stated that once sold, refunds or exchanges would not be supported.

In another area, a seller confirmed the supply of e-cigarettes and stated that customers can place orders over the phone, make payments using UPI, and get home delivery services. Compared to the Delhi market, e-cigarettes are harder to get supplies and a lower price in Lucknow. Currently, the main brands in Lucknow are IGET and ELFBAR.

Vijay Pratap Singh, Assistant Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) in Lucknow, stated that the FSDA will issue warnings to illegal vendors, and if they do not comply, their products will be sealed and banned for sale. However, the current regulations do not have sufficient penalties, as offenders only need to pay a fine of 200 rupees (2 dollars) per item to avoid harsher punishment. Additionally, the police have the authority to independently crackdown on these illegal activities.

Previously, 2Firsts had an exclusive interview with Kartik Laijawala, the CEO of Nico Orgo, which is the top nicotine enterprise in India, sharing his opinions about the trend of stricter regulations on sythetic nicotine, the ban of disposable e-cigarettes, etc. For more information, please refer to the full report: As Nicotine Markets Shift, Nico Orgo Bets on Natural Purity and Global Supply – A 2Firsts Interview.