Preparations are underway to ban e-cigarettes in Nepal. Information Officer of the National Health Education, Information and Communication Center, Bhakta Bahadur KC, said.
He said that the use of e-cigarettes is increasing among the youth in Nepal, and said legislation is being created to ban e-cigarettes as “they are as harmful to health as cigarettes.”
Numerous studies have shown vaping to be at least 95 percent less risky than combustible cigarette smoking.
According to statistics, in the last fiscal year alone, Nepal imported 3.2 million e-cigarettes and the business is worth Rs 210 million ($1.5 billion). Hookah and vape devices cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 13,000.
The letter of intent to ban e-cigarettes has already been sent to the Ministry of Health and Population, according to KC.