Muhith makes ‘hazardous’ e-cigarettes costlier

The government has imposed 25 percent customs duty on e-cigarettes, which Finance Minister AMA Muhith has described as “newly invented health-hazardous item”.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems or e-cigarettes are as harmful to health as bidi or cigarettes.

Muhith introduced separate HS codes for these two items (e-cigarettes and refill packs) and imposed 25 percent customs duty for both.

He further said the use of e-cigarettes was increasing by the day particularly among young smokers from wealthy families.

Currently, there is only 10 percent duty applicable to this product and its refill pack.

Muhith also proposed to impose 100 percent supplementary duties on the two items.