My First Reply From MEP's

[MarkS]

Another reply from libdem MEP for London:

Dear Mr Shaw,



Thank you for contacting me on the subject of the European Commission's recent proposal for a revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, particularly with regard to the proposed new rules surrounding 'nicotine containing products', such as e-cigarettes.



I would first like to point out that the proposal does not contain an outright ban on nicotine-containing products such as e-cigarettes, so such products may still be sold as long as the amount of nicotine contained in them does not exceed a certain threshold.



Article 18 of the proposal states that nicotine-containing products that have a nicotine level exceeding 2mg, or a nicotine concentration exceeding 4 mg per ml or an intended use which results in a mean maximum peak plasma concentration exceeding 4 ng per ml may be placed on the market only if they have been authorised as medicinal products on the basis of their quality, safety and efficacy, and with a positive risk/benefit balance.



There are many arguments for and against nicotine-containing products, in particular with regards to their safety, functioning and impact on health, as well as the effect more stringent regulation would have on the habits of nicotine addicts. Some argue that the relatively low level of nicotine permitted by the revised Directive in devices like e-cigarettes would render them useless to those attempting to quit smoking. However, others suggest that not enough is known about the safety of such products, and that they are in need of greater regulation in order to safeguard against an increasing over dependency.



My Liberal Democrat colleague Rebecca Taylor MEP, who is a substitute member of the Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, is monitoring the proposal on behalf of the LibDems. She has extensive experience in the field of public health and is still examining the issue of nicotine-containing products and has not yet taken a position on this particular part of the Directive. Over the coming months she will be looking at a range of studies and meeting various experts and stakeholders in order to have as sound an understanding of the issue as possible. I have also forwarded your comments to her.



Yours sincerely,

Sarah Ludford

Ever get the feeling you've just jumped on to a Merry-Go-Round?

[thundercat]

A comment by Dave Dorn tonight has prompted me to question what these Mp/MEp/s actually understand what an electronic cigarette is. If they believe what most of us use is a looky-likey and everyone is using 1 small cart a day( or indeed 1 cart equals 1 cigarette or 40 fags or whatever), then we all need to educate them- and very quickly.

I'm firing off the question asap.

Andy

[MarkS]

Good luck Andy.

Having voted Lib-Dem in the last general election, I cannot help but feel completely cynical when it comes to politicians.
Even if they were experts and truely believed e-cigs were the way forward, they would sell that belief for a whiff of power in a second.

[Deleted]

Great job Mark

I will try to put a decent letter together to send to my MP Bob Russell

[MarkS]

Thanks Sooetie.

As I was told before emailing, the more that do can only help.

Don't get to despondent if you get a generic reply though.
At least you've made your voice heard.

[Banky]

Iv'e written to every MSPs and MEPs, And get back the same BS, but I'm going to re-send them all again.

[MarkS]

Shameful really isn't it Banky?
They nearly all think they know better, even when it's a subject they know bugger all about.

[MarkS]

Received another reply from the emails I sent out last week and the first response to say outright that they would be voting against it.

Dear Mr Shaw,

Thank you for your recent communication regarding the proposed extension
of the EU Tobacco Directive to include and regulate the sale of
electronic cigarettes. UKIP believes that the only Parliament which
should be able to make laws for UK citizens is our democratically
elected Parliament at Westminster so please be assured my UKIP
colleagues and I will vote against this legislation.

Yours sincerely,


Gerard Batten MEP

It is good to know that there are MEP's on our side, but.... and I know I'm splitting hairs here, it's not a reply saying we are right or acknowledging the benefits of switching to an e-cig. It's just a reply basically saying we hate the EU and all it stands for so that's why we will vote no.
I don't really think that helps anyones cause. We need MEP's who understand WHY we do not think these new regulations should be put in place so they can fight our corner based around facts and maybe help turn those sitting on the fence in our direction.

Still it's something I guess.

[thundercat]

Received today

Thank you for your email concerning the European Commission's recent proposal for a revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, particularly with regards to the proposed new rules surrounding 'nicotine containing products', such as e-cigarettes.

I would first like to point out that the proposal does not contain an outright ban on nicotine containing products, and that such products may still be sold freely as long as the amount of nicotine contained in them does not exceed a certain threshold. The exact wording in the proposal states:

"Nicotine Containing Products that either have a nicotine level exceeding 2mg, a nicotine concentration exceeding 4 mg per ml or whose intended use results in a mean maximum peak plasma concentration exceeding 4 ng per ml may be placed on the market only if they have been authorised as medicinal products on the basis of their quality, safety and efficacy, and with a positive risk/benefit balance 24".

There are many arguments for and against nicotine containing products, in particular with regards to their safety, functioning and impact on health, as well as the effect more stringent regulation would have on the habits of nicotine addicts. Some argue that the relatively low level of nicotine permitted by the revised Directive in devices like e-cigarettes would render them useless to those attempting to quit smoking. However, others suggest that not enough is known about the safety of such products, and that they are in need of greater regulation in order to safeguard against an increasing over dependency.

The debate in the European Parliament on the issue of nicotine-containing products is still at an early stage. Over the coming months, my UK Lib Dem colleagues who are members of the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety), Rebecca Taylor MEP and Chris Davies MEP, will be looking at a range of studies and meeting various experts and stakeholders in order to have as sound an understanding of the issue as possible.

I can assure you that we will be closely following the progress of this proposal through Parliament.

Thank you again for your email.


Yours sincerely


Fiona Hall MEP

Fiona Hall MEP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament
Liberal Democrat MEP for North East England

[MarkS]

So another reply that basically says, "Your testimony doesn't stand for much and if we decide you are wrong then you are wrong"

Do any of these MEP's who are on the fence actually look at where the sources that say "e-cigs are bad mmmkay" originate from?

It's basically the ostrich approach.

[Deleted]

this is what I just got...

Hate the word ms....Do this politicians think we're all slags?

Dear Ms ****,

Thank you for your recent email regarding the recent proposals to revise
the EU Tobacco Products Directive, particularly on the issue of
electronic cigarettes.

Firstly, I sincerely apologise for the time taken to respond to your email.

I note your opinions, from your own personal experience as an electronic
cigarette user, and understand that you believe there to be benefits in
using an electronic cigarette as an alternative to a conventional
tobacco cigarette.

I will take your views into account as the debate in the European
Parliament on E-cigarettes progresses, ultimately seeking a balanced
position that takes into account scientific health assessments and the
legitimate concerns of E-cigarette consumers.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Hudghton MEP

[kibbster]

Some shocking replies from MPs in this thread and everywhere else I have seen.
I think it's obvious that people can't claim ignorance because they now send out boilerplate letters which means MPs of all parties have had correspondence on the subject from on high.
The "smoking is bad mmmkay", the "we aren't banning it just regulating it to be useless"... to UKIPs "we hate the EU" are all pointing to the fact that no-one seems to be listening or taking anything we say seriously.

But on the other hand the fact that they've had to come up with a boilerplate reply means they are replying a lot and coordinating their response.
Which means they all know we are writing to them and they of course will produce spreadsheets in Excel and eventually graphs in powerpoint to show the numbers that have contacted them about this.
They have to to show they are doing some work!

It means we aren't being ignored, we are being collated and it's a numbers game.
If enough people write to them this becomes a hot potato and they know there's some public opposition to the EU proposal.
Many things may happen to us but being ignored isn't one of them if they have "party line" responses rather than like at the start letting MPs write whatever they wanted.

In truth if no one writes in objection they'll happily push this through or ignore it, but they don't like too many objections because that means too many potential votes lost (they expect some objection to everything) we have to show them this isn't just a couple of nutters wearing tin-foil hats that think the government or EU is out to get us.

And I think they are starting to see that not all of their constituents are toady, butt kissers to anyone who wants to take away what ever freedom the previously enjoyed but some of constituents are in a fighting mood

So replying to pick holes in their replies is great, not taking no for an answer is great, we have to let them know we aren't going to let it go and we mean what we say.
This is important, not just a winge in a pub to our smoking mates.

All IMHO of course


And now I'm going into hiding before the men with sunglasses and silent helicopters track me down