NEW DELHI (WION) — The Union Cabinet approved an ordinance prohibiting the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes in India.

The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the production, import, export, transport, storage and sale of electronic cigarettes are now banned in the country. “The decision was made with in mind the impact that electronic cigarettes have on youth today”, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a conference.

A first offence will now be punishable by one year in prison and/or 100,000 rupees (€1,270) in fine, up to 3 years and/or 500,000 rupees (€6,300) in the event of a repeat offence.

This comes at a time when electronic cigarettes, which are considered “undeniably harmful” in a recent report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), are facing tougher regulations around the world, particularly in the United States.

Electronic smoking is already banned in many countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates and United States.