Michael Cashman MEP Reply (Labour)

[Adam78]

Dear Adam

Thank you for your recent email and please accept my sincere apologies in the delay in responding to you due to holidays.

Because e-cigarettes are a relatively new product they are regulated differently in each EU country. Some countries allow e-cigarettes to be sold without any regulation at all. Others have banned the sale of e-cigarettes. As the UK is part of the EU's internal market it is important that we harmonise the way we deal with this product, otherwise consumers could be buying unregulated products which do not conform to basic safety standards, either within their own country, or by easily purchasing it over the internet from a neighbouring country.

The European Commission has proposed that all 'nicotine containing products' with more than 2mg per unit should not be classed as tobacco products. Instead, under the Commission's proposals, nearly all e-cigarettes will need to get authorisation as a pharmaceutical product, in the same way as nicotine patches, sprays and gums.

Of course there is a balance to strike. On one hand e-cigarettes have the potential to be a helpful way to help somebody quit smoking entirely and greatly improve their health. On the other hand e-cigarettes currently can contain up to 48mg of nicotine - far more than a regular cigarette, making them highly addictive. As nicotine is the drug that makes cigarettes addictive, somebody that tries e-cigarettes could be much more likely to go on to smoke regular cigarettes. Furthermore, there is no evidence that e-cigarettes are safe, and it is concerning that they are being marketed as a 'healthy' alternative to smoking.

Currently we do not have any conclusive evidence either that e-cigarettes are helpful for giving up smoking, or that they encourage it.

While we do not have this scientific evidence to rely on I think it is wise to have a cautious approach to e-cigarettes. If they are effective in helping people to stop smoking, then it is appropriate that they are regulated in the same way as other smoking cessation tools, such as nicotine patches.

The Commission proposal is not final and there will be many months of negotiations by the European Parliament, as well as health ministers from the UK and other EU countries, before the legislation is agreed. During this time Labour MEPs will be looking carefully at all of the measures and trying to find the best way to ensure that we effectively reduce smoking rates in the UK and across Europe.

Thanks again for writing to me on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Michael

[MarkS]

Standard Labour reply unfortunately.

Point him the direction of ASH (action on smoking and health) letting him know there is in fact evidence that it does not lead people to smoking and does in fact lead them away from them.

Also let him know that they are not for "giving up", but are a proven and viable alternative to smoking.

Link him to Clive Bates blog, Dr Farsalinos research, even to forums such as here.

Ask him why Anti-Smoking groups are encouraging ecig use when their only interest is public health.

Good luck Adam.

[Adam78]

I'll do my best Mark thankyou for your suggestions, much appreciated.

[MarkS]

Good luck Adam.

I doubt he'll reply as they do not want to acknowledge the facts, so they sit comfortably with their conjecture.

Still worth a shot.

[Adam78]

I know Mark I'd be surprised if they even read my emails, most likely have their Secretaries fire out standard replies to the "Riff-Raff" but I'll keep on at them for what it's worth.