World Health Organization has commended Maldives' decision to ban vapes and vape related products.
World Health Organization has commended Maldives' decision to ban vapes and vape related products.
In a post on social media platform X, South-East Asia Regional Office of World Health Organization stated that this is an important move in combating the rising trend of vaping, especially amongst adolescents. '
Congratulations #Maldives 🇲🇻 for announcing a ban on vaping. An important initiative to arrest the worrying trend of increase in vaping, specially among young adolescents. As per the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 23.1% boys and 10.7% girls in the age group of 13 to 15 years… https://t.co/mffmWgYZL2
— World Health Organization South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) October 15, 2024
"As per the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 23.1 percent boys and 10.7 percent girls in the age group of 13 to 15 years had used e-cigarettes in Maldives," they said.
They highlighted that tobacco consumption, in all its forms, are harmful and a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the ban on Monday, stating that the import of vapes and vape related products will be banned from November 15 onwards, while a ban on use, sale, possession, production, advertising and distribution of vapes will be introduced from December 15 onwards.
Following this, he also announced that the import duty charges on cigarettes will also be raised from MVR 3 to MVR 8.
WHO said that e-cigarettes have been banned in 37 countries. In this region, vapes are banned in South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
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