Senate panel moves to curb youth vaping

In a major move to protect the 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 vapes and e-cigarettes, within the federal capital.

The Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill, moved by Senator Sarmad Ali, comes amid growing concerns over the "vaping epidemic" among students.

The proposed legislation introduces a comprehensive framework to control the import, marketing, and distribution of these products.

The bill's most stringent provision is a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes within 50 meters of any school, college, or educational institution.

The measure aims to dismantle the easy access students currently have to flavoured nicotine products. Furthermore, the bill proposes a strict age limit, making it illegal to sell vapes to anyone under the age of 18.

The legislation seeks to treat vaping similarly to traditional tobacco products. If passed, vaping will be prohibited in public transport, government offices, public parks and other shared community spaces.

The bill also calls for a total blackout on vape advertisements. 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 hazardous, unregulated e-liquids, the bill mandates nicotine caps, calling for a maximum nicotine concentration of 40mg/ml. It was further stated that all products must feature child-resistant and tamper-proof packaging and that mandatory health warnings must be displayed prominently on every pack.

The bill stated that e-commerce platforms selling vapes will be required by law to implement robust age-verification systems.

The proposed law carries significant legal weight. Violators of the age and location restrictions could face an immediate fine of Rs50,000 for a first offence. Repeat offenders and those found smuggling non-standardized e-liquids could face even heavier fines and potential legal prosecution.

The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services has 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 under review by relevant ministries to ensure a comprehensive enforcement mechanism is in place before it becomes law.

Reports say that there has been an alarming rise in vaping among young people in Pakistan. In a recent study on university and college students of Karachi, the prevalence of vaping was found to be 68 per cent.

The recent surge in vaping-related illnesses and deaths worldwide is a stark reminder of the dangers of these products. Nicotine addiction, respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases are just a few of the health risks linked to vaping. Research has so far identified over 2,000 toxins in each puff of vape.