Bangladesh may ban e-cigarettes as amendment awaits parliamentary approval

Bangladesh will ban e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The Ministry of Health has drafted an amendment to the Bangladesh Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, which has been reviewed by the Cabinet and is awaiting parliamentary approval.

According to Filter on September 1, Bangladesh will ban e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The Ministry of Health has drafted an amendment to the Bangladesh Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, which has been reviewed by the Cabinet and is awaiting parliamentary approval. 

Since the outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product related lung injuries in the U.S. in 2019, the government has been considering banning e-cigarettes, later determining that it was caused by counterfeit illegal products. 

If the proposed ban is approved, anyone found using e-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content, will be fined 5000 BDT (46 USD). The sale, production, import, export, storage, and transportation of e-cigarettes will also be prohibited, with penalties including higher fines, three months of imprisonment, or both. Larger operations or repeat offenders will face longer sentences. 

The amendment will also prohibit the addition of flavors to tobacco products, increase fines for smoking in public places, and impose further penalties for unlicensed tobacco sales. 

Organizations like the Bangladesh Medical Association support the proposed ban, equating e-cigarettes with smoking traditional cigarettes. 

Nafis Farhan, a member of the Bangladesh Voice of E-Cigarettes, stated, "Banning e-cigarette devices will have catastrophic consequences for those trying to quit smoking." He attributes the persistently high smoking rate in the country to the limited availability of cessation tools like e-cigarettes. 

Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers' Alliance, stated that the proposed ban means "missing the opportunity to reduce harm and is a setback for public health."