Indian media revealed the current situation of the ban on vapes. The main brands IGET and ELFBAR are widely distributed locally, and businesses even offer door-to-door delivery services. Current laws and regulations are not sufficiently penalized. Offenders can avoid heavy penalties by paying only a fine of $2 per incident.
Indian media revelation: vape ban hard to stop illegal sales
Despite a ban on the production, sale, import, export, transport, and promotion of vapes in India, vapes are still being sold openly, the Hindustan Times reported on February 18.
On September 18, 2019, the Indian government banned the sale of vapes, but hawkers in cities continue to sell such products through small shops and grocery stores.
IGET and ELFBAR products now available in multiple locations
According to an investigation by the Hindustan Times, several shops in the Lucknow area are not only selling vapes but also providing door-to-door delivery services, easily circumventing legal restrictions. A field check by the Hindustan Times on February 15-16 found that at least four to five shops were openly selling vapes, with owners displaying a variety of flavors and selling single-use vapes ranging from 6,000 to 30,000 units.
One vendor admitted that he was able to distribute vapes across the city at no extra charge. Priced at 1,400 rupees ($16) for 6,000 packs and 2,400 rupees ($28) for 30,000 packs, the devices are available in a variety of flavors and can even be delivered secretly on request.
Another supplier said it was selling vapes with a starting capacity of 10,000 mouthpieces for 1,600 rupees ($18) and offering door-to-door delivery. But once sold, the vapes will not be returned, he said.
One business confirmed the availability of vapes and said customers could buy them over the phone, pay through UPI Pay, and enjoy home delivery. vapes are hard to come by in Lucknow compared to the Delhi market and are more expensive. At present, the main brands of Lucknow are Iget and ELFBAR.
Food Safety and Drug Administration Lucknow (FSDA) Vijay Pratap Singh FSDA said the FSDA will issue a warning to illegal shops and shut down prohibited items if the response is not satisfactory. However, current laws and regulations are not punished enough. Offenders can avoid heavy penalties by paying a fine of only 200 rupees ($2) per case. In addition, the police have the power to act independently against these violations.
