Ban on e-cigarettes: Vape importers submit memorandum to CA

Vape importers have submitted a memorandum to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to reconsider the government's decision to ban the import of e-cigarettes.

A delegation of Voice of Vapers, Consumer Rights of Sales Alternatives (CORSA), and Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association (BENDSTA) submitted the memorandum to the CA's official residence today (28 December), reads a press release.

In the memorandum, they expressed deep concern over the decision which includes adding e-cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) to the list of prohibited items in the Import Policy Order by the Ministry of Commerce.

Stakeholders said this decision will deprive adult smokers of a less harmful alternative to quit smoking, potentially causing significant negative impacts on public health and the economy.

Earlier in the day, they held a human chain at Shahbagh under the theme, "Reconsider the Import Ban on Harm Reduction Products to Prevent Smoking."

At the human chain, Schumann Zaman, president of BENDSTA, emphasised the harm-reduction benefits of e-cigarettes, citing research from the UK Health Security Agency, which found vaping to be 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes.

"Countries like the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden are actively promoting vaping as a public health strategy. This ban risks driving current e-cigarette users back to traditional smoking, exacerbating public health risks," he added.

Zaman also warned of unintended consequences, referencing India's experience following its e-cigarette ban in 2019, which resulted in a thriving black market that compromised product quality, user safety, and government revenues.

Iftekharul Alam, director of CORSA, pointed out that nearly 500,000 individuals in Bangladesh have already quit smoking through vaping and that the livelihoods of many are tied to the vaping industry.

He said, "This decision by the government will harm all these individuals. Everyone has the right to choose less harmful alternatives to quit smoking."

The organisations demanded that, instead of imposing a complete ban on e-cigarettes, the government implement a scientific and logical regulatory framework. This approach would ensure the dual goals of public health improvement and providing safer alternatives for adult smokers.

They urged the government to work with stakeholders to develop a fair regulatory structure and called for the application of proven tobacco harm reduction strategies to safeguard public health.

BENDSTA proposed reconsidering the ban on importing ENDS products and urged the government to shift from prohibition to regulation by formulating scientifically-backed policies, engaging stakeholders such as traders, users, and health experts, establishing regulations for product importation, quality control, and licensing to prevent substandard and illegal products, and enforcing strict age restrictions with stringent laws to prevent access by minors.