Trade Representatives of E-Cigarettes write to Health Ministry expressing reservations about public consultation process.

• “It’s a one–way process, designed to comply with law in word and not in spirit
• Can be manipulated by opposing vested interests”

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New Delhi, October 22,2019:

The Trade Representatives of ENDS in India (TRENDS) have today written to the Ministry of Health, urging them to reconsider the process outlined for the public consultation on the E-Cigarette ban.

In a letter addressed to the Health Secretary Ms. Preeti Sudan, TRENDS has argued that it was not public consultation but just public comments that was proposed by the Ministry, andpointed out that it could easily be manipulated by anti-tobacco NGOs or the cigarette lobby could flood it with comments of one kind or the other.

It also said that the Government could also find itself accused of being supportive of a pro-ban commentary since it had moved rather hastily and without much basis to ban E-Cigarettes and was now trying to legitimize the process.

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TRENDS has asked for a consultative process that includes

1. People who know the subject – medical and subject experts of opposing views – evaluate and discuss objections, suggestions or clarifications.
2. People who are affected – trade, consumers – are given an opportunity to place their viewson record
3. People who can contribute to the legal and regulatory process are also consulted so that all options can be discussed.

Speaking on this, Praveen Rikhy, Convenor, TRENDS said, “As representatives of the trade body for the industry and on behalf of other associated stakeholders, especially the growers and traders of Tobacco, we are apprehensive that  due consideration is not being given to all the factors for taking such a decision, and that the public objections that are being invited will not be given any cognisance and consideration and the whole exercise is being conducted to only comply with the laws, in word and Not in spirit.”

At the very least, TRENDS has asked that as an affected party they should be allowed to respond to the comments that are received by the Ministry to give the process a sanctity of an authentic consultative process.

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