Pakistan bill proposes to treat e-cigarettes equally with cigarettes

Pakistan's Senate National Health Services Standing Committee approved the Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (Regulation) Bill, paving the way for its submission to the Senate for consideration. The authorities 'move is aimed at curbing the growing prevalence of e-cigarette smoking among teenagers, especially in Islamabad. The bill will impose strict controls on the import, sale, marketing and use of e-cigarettes, including banning the sale of e-cigarettes within 50 meters of schools and colleges, setting a minimum purchase age of 18, and banning the use of e-cigarettes in public transportation, government buildings, parks and other public places. The proposed bill would regulate e-cigarettes similar to traditional tobacco products, ban all advertising-especially marketing to minors-and require products to meet relevant standards, such as a nicotine content limit of 40 mg/ml, child-safe packaging, health warnings, and age verification for e-commerce sales. First-time offenders will be fined up to 50,000 rupees (about US$175), while repeated offenders and smugglers will face more severe penalties. The bill is currently undergoing cross-departmental review before being submitted to the Senate for formal consideration, which heralds stricter regulation of the nicotine and e-cigarette markets in Pakistan.