Time Scale

[neptune]

I would be interested to hear members views regarding any forthcoming ban, or an effective ban. I know that everything is up in the air at the moment. A lot of amendments haver been proposed to the TPD, and have yet to be voted on. If all or some of Linda McAvens proposals are adopted, we get a three years grace period from the date the proposals are adopted. A more immediate threat may well come from the MHRA. If , as they claim, they report this spring, it will obviously be soon. Any ban they implement could happen as soon as 21 days after their announcement. I know it is impossible to predict the future, but I would like to hear views.

[jonoclouds]

May I paste here a report that I have received this afternoon from our local MEP? It is quite interesting, and from the closing sentences it seems that nothing has yet been finalised.

Cheers - Jono.

From: NEWTON DUNN Bill <[e-mail]>
To:
Sent: Thursday, 23 May 2013, 13:33
Subject: report to Nottinghamshire from Bill Newton Dunn MEP

Another report from the European Parliament, where many topics are bubbling.


What are Electronic Cigarettes ?
The original Commission proposal was to regulate anything with a substantial nicotine content (enough to actually have an effect) as "medicinal products", for which getting approval would be costly and slow. The proposal allows e-cigs (or 'nicotine containing products') which contain nicotine under a low threshold to be sold as consumer products. People in favour of medicinal regulation argue that we don't know what are the long term effects of inhaling nicotine vapours, and that they could potentially be dangerous. Those on the other side say that, yes they should be regulated in some way to ensure that they are safe as general products, but that they are many times less dangerous than tobacco, do not cause cancer, and are not meant to act as medicines, and should not be regulated as such.
The parliament's Environment committee has not yet taken a final position. Liberal MEPs say that if the e-cig manufacturers make a health claim and say the electronic cigarettes can get you to quit smoking, then they have to regulated as medicines. If not, they are only obliged to comply with existing EU consumer legislation, and include warnings that health may be damaged, and implement age restrictions. The Commission would be obliged to do an in-depth study on the long term effects of these products and, if necessary, propose separate legislation in future. The debate in the committee continues.

[davess]

"The parliament's Environment committee has not yet taken a final position. Liberal MEPs say that if the e-cig manufacturers make a health claim and say the electronic cigarettes can get you to quit smoking, then they have to regulated as medicines. If not, they are only obliged to comply with existing EU consumer legislation, and include warnings that health may be damaged, and implement age restrictions. The Commission would be obliged to do an in-depth study on the long term effects of these products and, if necessary, propose separate legislation in future. The debate in the committee continues."

This last sentence reads okay to me. Not quite as worrying as some stuff I've read on here.