India Rules Out E-Cigarette Ban Relaxation

India has made it clear that it will not ease its ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, despite lobbying efforts by global tobacco giant Philip Morris International.

The Health Ministry said the government is “not considering revoking, amending or relaxing” the 2019 law that prohibits e-cigarettes, including heat-not-burn devices such as vapes and similar products.

India remains committed to tobacco control measures based on scientific evidence, the ministry said in response to media queries. It added that the existing law explicitly bans heated tobacco products and that the position will not change.

India is the world’s seventh-largest cigarette market by volume, with more than 100 billion cigarette sticks sold annually. Tobacco use is linked to over one million deaths each year in the country.

Philip Morris, maker of Marlboro cigarettes, has been seeking entry into the Indian market for its heated tobacco device IQOS. The company maintains that IQOS is less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

A review of company communications from 2021 to 2025 indicates that Philip Morris approached senior Indian officials and a parliamentary health panel, urging them to consider scientific research on heat-not-burn devices and to review the ban.

The company also proposed that experts, including former regulators from other countries, present global data on such products. It suggested that alternative tobacco products could be part of a harm-reduction strategy.

In a statement, Philip Morris said it regularly engages with governments worldwide to discuss smoke-free products and public health. However, it did not directly comment on India’s latest clarification.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said it is not currently considering or conducting research on heated tobacco products.

Philip Morris’ chief executive recently said it was “illogical” for smoking alternatives to remain banned while traditional cigarettes continue to be sold. He argued that in some countries, the availability of alternatives has contributed to declining smoking rates.

Some regulators, including the US Food and Drug Administration, have previously said that certain heated tobacco products may benefit public health if smokers switch completely from cigarettes. However, the World Health Organization has warned that such products still pose health risks.

India’s 2019 ban had already blocked the entry of several e-cigarette and vape products into the market.

Industry analysts note that India represents a significant opportunity for tobacco companies due to its large consumer base. However, the government’s latest statement signals that policy on e-cigarettes will remain unchanged for now.