In an important move to protect youth from nicotine addiction, a new bill has been introduced in the Senate Standing Committee on Health to strictly regulate the sale and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems, commonly known as vaporizers and e-cigarettes, within the federal capital.
The Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill, introduced by Senator Sarmad Ali, comes amid growing concerns over the “vaping epidemic” among students.
The proposed legislation introduces a comprehensive framework to control the importation, marketing and distribution of these products.
The strictest provision of the bill is a complete ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes within a 50-meter radius of any school, college or educational institution.
The measure aims to dismantle the easy access that students currently have to flavored nicotine products. Additionally, the bill proposes a strict age limit, making it illegal to sell vaporizers to anyone under 18 years of age.
The legislation seeks to treat vaping similarly to traditional tobacco products. If passed, vaping will be banned on public transportation, government offices, public parks and other shared community spaces.
The bill also calls for a complete blocking of vaping ads. This includes a ban on promoting e-cigarettes on television, social media and billboards, specifically targeting marketing tactics that appeal to minors.
Meanwhile, to curb the sale of dangerous and unregulated e-liquids, the bill calls for nicotine limits, requiring a maximum nicotine concentration of 40 mg/ml. It was further stated that all products must have child-resistant and tamper-resistant packaging and that mandatory health warnings must be prominently displayed on each packaging.
The bill states that e-commerce platforms selling vaporizers will be required by law to implement robust age verification systems.
The proposed law has significant legal weight. Violators of the age and location restrictions could face an immediate fine of Rs 50,000 for the first offence. Repeat offenders and those found smuggling non-standardized e-liquids could face even higher fines and possible legal action.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services recently deliberated on the draft, with officials emphasizing that while e-cigarettes are often marketed as “safe,” they pose long-term health risks to the respiratory systems of young users.
The bill is currently being reviewed by relevant ministries to ensure that a comprehensive enforcement mechanism is in place before it becomes law.
Reports say that there has been an alarming rise in vaping among youth in Pakistan. In a recent study on college and university students in Karachi, the prevalence of vaping was found to be 68 percent.
The recent rise in vaping-related illnesses and deaths around the world is a stark reminder of the dangers of these products. Nicotine addiction, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular disease are just some of the health risks associated with vaping. So far, research has identified more than 2,000 toxins in every vape puff.
