www.rebeccataylor.eu/2014/02/26/good-news-for-tobacco-control-less-so-for-e-cigarettes/Rebecca has left a blog on the TPD results.
She did speak to us (more than most MEPs did) she listened to us but she was still adamant that the TPD is a good thing and arbitrary restriction on E-cigs aren't a bad thing.
She still bought into the Daily Fail hype.
Although in her defence she stuck to here guns... kind of.. and didn't vote for Article 18a yesterday... unlike her colleague who shall not be mentioned.
Anyway, feel free to leave a comment, I did.
"Whilst I do appreciate the work you did for vapers leading up to the ridiculous Article 18a (which shouldn't even have been in a tobacco directive.)
The future is still anything but rosy for vapers and there is no doubt that it will drive a percentage of vapers back to smoking.
The regulations are over the top and inflict arbitrary and needless restrictions on a technology that has been quoted as the end game for smoked tobacco and the biggest public health prize since vaccines!
And all we’ve heard from most MEPs is that the restrictions are for the mythical health of some imaginary children that don’t yet exist according to all available data.
I’ve never heard of any consumer product before that is getting draconian laws when there is no known evidence of harm and in fact quite the opposite.
The basic point I’m trying to make is that any over-restriction on e-cigs lowers them close to their main rival, the deadly (if you believe the science) tobacco cigarette.
If you want to make a dent in tobacco sales do you try and restrict the deadly tobacco or do you restrict the safer alternative and the one technology around that given the time it needs to innovate could end smoked tobacco use?
Forgive me if I can’t understand why nibbling at the edges of the least popular tobacco products (Menthol many years away, novelty cases that no one has ever seen, flavourings that no one has ever smoked and graphic warnings that are a badge of honour rather than a deterrent)
As for banning sales of the most deadly consumer product known to man in smaller quantities… excuse me!?
Am I right in thinking that you want people to smoke less so you’ll only allow them to buy cigarettes in larger quantities?
Really!?
That makes sense does it?
I guess if that makes sense then I could see how restricting the 99.9% safer alternative also makes sense… In an mirror universe.
So anyway, I believe your heart and ambitious really are in the right place and at least you abstained rather than actively try to destroy vapers from within like your colleague did by voting for both Article 18a and the TPD!
The fact you could have voted for the TPD (for all the good it’ll do anyone) and still have voted against the draconian EU laws on ecigs is neither here nor there.
Please don’t keep saying “It could have been worse” as if that’s a positive vapers should be rejoicing in the streets.
I know you were up against tough times in the TPD defending ecigs, you are one of the few who actually engaged with us, but for me what you do speak much louder than what you say.
"
