Electronic cigraettes to be "regulated" and reclassified as medicines
Markjuk
Posts: 30,428 Forum Member
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ecigarettes-to-be-licenced-and-treated-as-medicines-for-first-time-in-uk-8655612.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22870301
Well once again the EU has gotten its way and put pressure on the UK Government. No doubt this was due to lobbying by tobacco and pharmaceutical companies who are terrified at losing profit as people turn away from tobacco and useless NRT products.
The Government are only interesting in doing this so that increased tax revenues can be levied against the product.
Is it ridiculous that certain people bang on about the "safety" of e-cigarettes when:
1) They are safer than smoking regular tobacco that is freely available (to over 18's) in most shops.
2) Many people have given up smoking regular tobacco and switched to e-cigarettes,potentially saving lives.
As one who has switched from smoking cigarettes to "vaping" I am utter annoyed at this decision announced today!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22870301
Well once again the EU has gotten its way and put pressure on the UK Government. No doubt this was due to lobbying by tobacco and pharmaceutical companies who are terrified at losing profit as people turn away from tobacco and useless NRT products.
The Government are only interesting in doing this so that increased tax revenues can be levied against the product.
Is it ridiculous that certain people bang on about the "safety" of e-cigarettes when:
1) They are safer than smoking regular tobacco that is freely available (to over 18's) in most shops.
2) Many people have given up smoking regular tobacco and switched to e-cigarettes,potentially saving lives.
As one who has switched from smoking cigarettes to "vaping" I am utter annoyed at this decision announced today!
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Comments
These products should face open liability risk to any seen or unforeseen effects on people and suppliers should have to carry full liability insurance.
As you point out, it is all about money.
Yes - but I've changed my mind since that thread.:)
What have the EU got to do with it. Did you not read the Independant article. The UK want to lobby the EU not the other way round.
I'm not sure that is true.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339853/Tobacco-heavy-hitters--Sean-Parker--making-bets-e-cigarettes.html
I also know of at least one big pharma company who has recently been pitching to buy e-cig companies (and no doubt other big pharma companies are also at it).
Short of being terrified - they seem to have been divvying up the e-cig shaped pie right under our noses. Who knows how many e-cig companies are fully or partially owned by big pharma and big tobacco - I bet far more than the average consumer is aware of.
Indeed, it's just another source of profits. And to be honest, there's really nothing stopping the big industries from running their own e-cig lines without buying out other companies - and that will put them in the perfect place when it does come time to regulate, as they'll have the money and the necessary facilities to pass regulation checks.
Come 2016, if the legislation is passed then the winners will always be the big industries.
Was it ever going to be different though - even had the regulations not changed.
Small startups can be quick to respond to new markets opening up - whilst the larger companies lumber along.
However - once something becomes mainstream (as e-cigs now are) - the big companies inevitably hoover the smaller ones up, especially in the high volume areas. Small companies will likely only remain if they are creating specialist or bespoke e-cigs - catering for a market that is too small for big companies to worry about.
It's simply a sign of the capitalist system we operate in and happens across all areas of commerce from food and drink, dvds, music, electronic goods etc.
My first thought when I heard this on the news was that the government just can't leave anything alone. They have to interfere.
E-Cigarettes contain Nicotine. Therefore they should of course be regulated, just like tobacco is.
Most countries are drawing up plans for E-Cig regulation, not just EU states.. I think New Zealand and Oz already have strict regulations.
Although one criticism is that they seem to be being more strict on E-Cigs than they are on tobacco. In my opinion they should be treated the same.
One major problem with current regulations (or lack therefof) is that anybody can make and sell E-Cigs - and this can lead to dodgy and dangerous products and contaminants, especially from the really cheap ones that come from China.
Regulation is needed. Although as they are safer than tobacco cigarettes I assume they are going overboard because of tobacco-lobbying (£££), as opposed to the EU or whatnot.
What do you mean?
The EU have the final say on this. That's why it's not until 2016. EU legislation comes next year. The MHRA have said what they want to happen.
Most Vapers are relatively happy with increased regulation. Why pitch it at the highest possible level (pharma) though?
We should be moving toward regulation regardless of what the EU say. Just because 'the EU said it!' it doesn't make it wrong. The EU is often right, and generally works in the benefit of the general public.
I agree they may be going overboard, but it's natural for the news media to overhype it (as they do with everything).
I imagine a happy middle-ground will be found and they'll end up just being treated like cigs rather than prescription drugs.
Right now there is zero regulation, and that can't be right.
I don't see how this will work though. Will they make pure nicotine fluid a drug in the criminal sense? They can't in reality stop the sale of the contraptions in the same way you can't stop the sale of bongs.
These things work and have a near 100% success rate and even the misguided critics agree can't be anywhere near as damaging as cigarettes. So why are they facing strict legislation?
They are literally life savers.
This is why:
http://ig-ed.org/presse/petition/PT_EN.pdf
As in addition to regulation they also want to limit the strength allowed.
On another note try googling 'Pfizer share price today'. Happy days!
That's fair enough, but from what I can establish that is one of many proposals - it's probably not going to happen like that.
In similar circumstances policymakers will come up with many ideas - but most of them never leave the drawing board.
Well yes, there is also other statutory/arbitrary stuff but it's not quite the same as some decent legislation specifically covering E-Cigarettes and their production, sale and use.
I said regulation not legislation. The same way ECITA (industry body) introduced testing of e liquid standards.
I've got a feeling you won't be able to buy bottles of juice. Just prefilled cartos. Obviously a guess.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43426
Regulation is no bad thing in terms of ensuring quality, and the stupid thing is by doing so and making this an aid to stop smoking, then they will probably become free on the NHS.
They can't make it a "Stop Smoking Device" as many users (including myself) have no wish to give up. (At least not e-cigs)
They never were for that and won't be in the future.