Ministerial Decision 327/2015 issued on December 22 2015 by H E Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy Minister of Commerce and Industry states that the decision to ban the import of electronic cigarettes and sheesha to the sultanate comes into effect from December 23. The decision also imposes a fine of RO500 on first time violators.

The fine doubles for repeat offence. PACP had banned the sale and trade of e-cigarettes and e-sheeshas with effect from December 2 2015. Dr Jawad al Lawati senior consultant and rapporteur of the National Tobacco Control Committee had told Muscat Daily in December last year that the decision to ban the import of such products was going to be introduced by MoCI soon.

'The sale of a product within the country and importing a good are two different things. That's why when we went to MoCI with the request we were told that the jurisdiction on local trading is not within its ambit. 'But the import of any product comes under MoCI and the ban on importing e-cigarettes is something we are still awaiting. It has taken longer than anticipated but should come soon' he had said. He added that the use of e-cigarettes was harming the 50-60 years of hard work put in by health workers against the vice of smoking.

'E-cigarettes have tried to normalise the habit of smoking which is something very serious.'