April 10th, 2014
A draft directive has been published by the European Commission. It covers a proposal to ban on tobacco products and alternatives to cigarettes like e cigarettes.
The draft, published in Dec. 19, 2012, is an offshoot of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which was adopted in June 5, 2001. The revision of TPD is being done to achieve three main objectives
Update harmonised areas on new market, scientific and international developments
Address product related measures that have not yet been covered by TPD
Ensure that TPD provisions are not circumvented with the entry of products that are not compliant with the TPD
Implications of the TPD revisions
What does it mean for e cigarette users? The revision on the TPD means the European Commission would also regulate products that do not necessarily contain tobacco, but are associated with smoking like herbal and e cigarettes.
E cigarettes that contain levels of nicotine that is higher than a certain threshold would only be allowed if these have been classified as pharmaceuticals. Herbal products for smoking would also be required to carry warning labels and show consumers their health risks.
It seems that the European Commission has not considered the possibility that regulating the use of e cigarettes may push smokers into a corner. Many of those who are trying to quit smoking tobacco products have turned to e cigarettes but with the revisions, where would they turn to?
In the UK, the government s nudge unit has encouraged the use of e cigarettes despite these products being banned in many countries. In a story that appeared in the Guardian in September 2011, the Cabinet Office s behavioural insight team said that the cold turkey approach no longer works.
The nudge unit also wants to explore new products that may deliver nicotine but not necessarily the harmful toxins and carcinogens.
The public speaks
Advocates of electronic cigarettes are airing their concerns over the revisions of the TPD. A commentary in Europolitics argues the revisions punishes users of tobacco instead of coming up with a framework that would improve health.
National Center for Public Policy Research Jefft Stier and Colubia European Legal Studies Center scholar in residence Dr. Karine Caunes cited the example of the continuous ban of snus, one of the least harmful tobacco forms. The two said the revision deprives smokers other alternatives to cigarettes.
The proposal even bans e cigarettes, a clearly less harmful alternative that appeals to many smokers, they said. The two added that the mockery of the consultation process deprives the TPD of credibility and legitimacy.
The Guardian s Lionel Shriver also argues that anti smokers cannot accept the fact that e cigarettes offer a viable alternative for smokers. A self confessed e cigarette convert, Shriver said that rabid anti smokers argue that e cigarettes would re normalize smoking.
She, however, stated that if e cigarette use becomes a socially acceptable, then lung cancer and emphysema would plummet. She added that the real evil is to deny smokers to opportunity to switch to a product that is 99 percent harmless.
What can you do?
The EU parliamentary committee will meet on Feb. 25 to discuss the directive. If you are an e cigarette user, you can write to your MP/MEP and let your voice be heart. If you are not sure who your MP/MEP is, enter your UK postcode at Write to Them.
E cigarette retailers, meanwhile, should encourage their customers to write their MP/MEP. Spreading the word to as many people as possible can make a difference.
Clive Bates also offers useful tips on what to say and what to do. In a nutshell, here are the things you can do to make your opinion heard
1. Write both to your MP/MEP. MPs can encourage government ministers to influence the directive while MEPs can yield influence over the European Parliament.
2. Send your letter to Write to Them.
3. If you want to send a hard copy letter instead, use the MP/MEP information found at Write to Them.
4. In your letter, make sure you argue your points well. If you have research and data to back up your arguments, better.
5. Be personal. Share your experience when you tried to quit smoking and switched to e cigarettes. Tell your MP/MEP the benefits you reaped from switching to alternative products. Write how different your life would be without these products.
Additionally, you can also encourage more e cigarette users to let their opinions heard. You can send letters to newspapers and voice out why you are not in favour of the directives. You can also participate in online forums or email the European Commission.
Remember that the EU parliamentary committee would meet on Feb. 25. The more things you do and the sooner you act, the better.
European union declares electronic cigarettes are not medicinal
In the morning of 08/10/2013 , the European Parliament, the legislative body of the European Union, voted to reject a proposal that electronic cigarettes or “e cigs” be regulated as medical devices. The ruling, which contradicts several federal laws held by member nations of the E.U., is a major decision on what’s a fairly new and poorly understood health issue.
The decision by parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee to classify e cigarettes as medicines has been condemned as “counterproductive and hypocritical”.
The move part of a package of tough new measures on tobacco products was criticised by parliament’s ECR group leader Martin Callanan, who said, “It is preposterous to classify e cigarettes as medical devices.
“Thousands of people have given up smoking thanks to e cigarettes. For the EU to over regulate them is completely counterproductive and hypocritical,” added Callanan.
“Electronic cigarette production has become lucrative for many small businesses and many jobs now depend on e cigarette production. By making the authorisation procedure for e cigarettes so difficult, many of these small businesses will pack up shop.
“This vote is not the end of this process and we will be working with vapers users of e cigarettes to make other MEPs see sense and support e cigarette producers and users.
“The world has gone mad when tobacco is less regulated than products designed to end tobacco use,” he warned.
ALDE deputy Chris Davies also opposed the decision saying, “If we want to reduce smoking related deaths then we must ensure that e cigarettes are as readily available as tobacco cigarettes.
“Classifying e cigarettes as a medicinal product potentially limits their availability for sale to pharmacies, and that is the wrong thing to do.
“E cigarettes are a potential game changer in the fight against tobacco because smokers find them enjoyable to use. They can help people break their addiction in a way that conventional nicotine replacement therapies will never do. They could save millions of lives.”
However, he added, “There is momentum for change building up, and a realistic prospect that Wednesday’s vote can be overturned when the issue comes before parliament after the summer recess.”
