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E-cigarettes won't stop tobacco consumption: Official
Health Ministry secretary-general Untung Suseno Sutarjo says the consumption of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can help to reduce tobacco consumption but will not eradicate it
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ealth Ministry secretary-general Untung Suseno Sutarjo says the consumption of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can help to reduce tobacco consumption but will not eradicate it.
Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel has spoken of a plan to ban the sale of e-cigarettes nationwide based on a recommendation from the Health Ministry.
'[E-cigarettes] will help to lessen consumption, but we found that the impact on health is the same,' said Untung in a press conference at the ministry on Friday.
Consumers have been purchasing imported e-cigarettes from China.
The ministry's head of health promotion, Lily S. Sulistyowati, also said that the ministries would talk about the implementation of the regulation with the Trade Ministry.
'We will discuss the regulation. The Health Ministry understands the impact of e-cigarettes, but the product is still permitted to be sold at the moment,' Lily said.
The WHO has recommended tighter restrictions on the use, sale, content and promotion of e-cigarettes, as they also pose risks to people that passively inhale the vapors that they release.
Research published in scientific journal PLOS One said e-cigarettes still contained toxic chemicals and could harm the lungs, making the body more susceptible to respiratory infections. (fsu)(++++)
