Policy Shift Proposed: Bangladesh Moves Toward Regulated E-Cigarette Market
Sources from the Ministry of Health have indicated that a process is underway to lift the existing ban on the production and sale of e-cigarettes in the country through amendments to the Tobacco Control Ordinance.
According to relevant sources, the decision is being taken based on the recommendations of a special parliamentary committee formed to review 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period. In line with this, the Ministry of Health has prepared a draft, which will soon be sent to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.
In this regard, the Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Traders Association (BENDSTA) stated that this is a timely step toward shifting from a prohibition-based policy to a regulation-based framework. The organization’s President, Suman Zaman, said that the use of e-cigarettes in the country has not ceased; rather, they are entering the market illegally. With specific laws and monitoring in place, the government could generate revenue from this sector.
He further stated that, for protecting youth, effective regulation is more beneficial than a complete ban. Measures such as age verification, licensed sales, advertisement control, and strict monitoring can prevent access by minors.
According to analysts, a complete ban tends to push the market underground, increasing the risk of a black market where no regulation exists. As a result, products may reach young people in an uncontrolled manner. In this context, a regulated framework may prove more effective in safeguarding public health and managing the market.
Meanwhile, in the international context, e-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are being discussed as a method to assist smoking cessation. Health guidelines in the United Kingdom and various studies suggest that nicotine-based e-cigarettes can, in many cases, help individuals quit smoking.
However, public health experts caution that in formulating any policy, three factors must be given top priority: protection of youth, control of addiction, and mitigation of health risks.
DBTech/DHE/EK/OR
