UAE’s Ministry of Health rejects requests to lift ban on e-cigarettes

The Ministry of Health has rejected requests from shop owners for permission to sell electronic cigarettes and electronic shisha pipes.

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The Ministry of Health has rejected requests from shop owners for permission to sell electronic cigarettes and electronic shisha pipes.

Officials told the National's Arabic-language sister paper, Al Ittihad, that a number of municipalities had referred store owners to the ministry for advice on applying for licences to sell e-cigarettes.

However, officials said the ministry examined e-cigarettes and banned their sale after it found they were harmful to health, dismissing allegations they helped people to quit smoking.

Officials noted that such products have not been proven to be safe and so their sale cannot be allowed in the UAE.

The ban is part of the ministry’s efforts to fight all forms of smoking and tobacco, officials said, noting the World Health Organisation also advises against e-cigarettes, and GCC States prohibit the circulation of e-cigarette and electronic shisha pipes.

newsdesk@thenational.ae