Are e-cigs being banned?

[liland]

I'm a little confused, having read some stuff on the forums and whatnot. Are all e-cigarettes being banned in mid June? Is it utterly pointless for me to even start on them?

Thanks

[jaki]

Hi Liland

I'll try to explain this as best I can - as far as I understand it, although it is rather involved so you will be forgiven if you drop off halfway (or before) through.

As far as we know the actual e-cigs should not be affected, but the MHRA are trying to control the supply of the juice. They are saying it should be classified as a medicine, although no sites state e-cigs cure you from smoking!

They are suggesting that current suppliers should licence their products if they want to continue supplying it. Now, the products, including juice are already under the watchful eye of trading standards and the vendors have to adhere to strict safety rules regarding packaging and labelling.

Licensing would be prohibitively expensive for smaller suppliers and in effect, only the big pharmaceutical companies would be able to afford to licence it. Can you see where this is going? Yup, the government want to tax it. They are losing revenue from the decreasing numbers of smokers and e-cigs provide a viable alternative to NRT.

The MHRA proposal initially stated that if they felt there were three options. 1. Immediate ban (that would have been the mid June date), 2. a year for companies to licence or 3. do nothing.

However, they hadn't reckoned on the strength of feeling from the e-cig users and suppliers and now they have had to add a few months to their decision date.

If they ban unlicensed vendors from supplying in the UK then getting the juice will be slightly more difficult than it is now, ie we would have to buy from abroad. Many vapers already buy from China and other countries, so that will always be a viable route.

In summary, I think they will make it more awkward, but not impossible.

Still awake? I hope that helps a bit

[Chrissie]

In a nutshell. The MHRA are looking to ban any items that contain nicotine unless they the sellers have a medicinal license. Funny though that they aren't trying to ban real cigs that also contain nicotine & 4,000 other chemicals!

Many of us are trying to fight what they are proposing. mainly by stating the fact that e-cigs aren't any more a medicine than real cigs are.

As for is it pointless for anyone to start - no it isn't IMHO. I can't see how they can ban e-cigs (for instance bongs are easily available & yet I believe they are mainly used for smoking illegal substances).

So our main problem, if the worst comes to the worst will be buying e-liquid that contains nicotine. But there will be several ways of getting round that problem

[liland]

I see. So it wont be made illegal in the UK, but we wont be able to purchase the juice here is all?
I thought the government were meant to support small businesses, or is this not so when it comes to their making money?
So they wont be making their final decision for a few months yet? And I assume there will be a thread on this forum and others when a decision is made, and it's implications for vapers?

[Chrissie]

Thanks Jaki I crossed posts with you

You explained the situation far better than me

[jaki]

I'm not sure about that Chrissie - I just waffle more!

Liland - there is no proposal to make vaping illegal

And you are spot on with the small business aspect - I think this angle has been tackled by some.

There was a stakeholder's meeting earlier this month and it seems that because of the overwhelming response to the MHRA proposals - far more than they had anticipated - any decision will be made in September, at the earliest. There is a report of this meeting www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-news/97220-uk-regulation-reports-updates.html if you are interested.

However, as Chrissie said, don't let this put you off starting - where there is a will there is a way.........

[liland]

Yes I saw that, but it was a little too long to be reading all of it, so I skimmed!
What hypocrites, you would have thought that anything to improve the general health of the population would be smiled on. Unlike all the anti-smoking campaigns, it's not even costing them money!

Why dont more people know about e-cigarettes? I only found them yesterday on the ebay q&a (I do a lot of forum lurking whilst sat outside smoking on the laptop lol).

[jaki]

Jun 17, 2010 22:03:39 GMT liland said:

Why dont more people know about e-cigarettes? I only found them yesterday on the ebay q&a (I do a lot of forum lurking whilst sat outside smoking on the laptop lol).

I don't know. I found out about them a good few years back (the Blu) but thought I could only buy them from the US and was concerned about customer service. I surf the net a lot and yet only stumbled on them earlier this year by accident.

I spend a lot of time sitting in traffic jams in London and have often wondered about getting a sign made for my car so that when I get the weird looks from other drivers when I am vaping, they might at least be able to find out what I am up to!

I have seen some advertising in the press recently, although the ads seem to make outrageous claims that are too good to be true, and I would never have ordered from one.

I think it is just down to vapers to 'spread the word', although all my smoking pals know I vape, only one has given it a go and that is only because I gave the second hand kit I bought from Tim to her!

So many seem to think it is a big initial outlay, but what price do you put on your health?

[jaki]

Just to add, there looks to be some VERY good news coming in, but I'll leave it to Kate to post.

[omegaman]

Jun 17, 2010 22:33:38 GMT jaki said:

Just to add, there looks to be some VERY good news coming in, but I'll leave it to Kate to post.

Thanks and hello Jaki.

We'll look forward to hearing from Teh Wholey Syster

[Chrissie]

Liland, I think the main reason that people, in the UK especially, haven't hear about e-cigs is due to the fact no one with big money has looked into them - therefore there hasn't been any major advertising (apart from the ones in the press that jaki has mentioned) .

There is also the fact that quite obviously the very wealthy tobacco companies just have to hate the thought the e-cig is the best alternative to cigarettes ever!

Then we have the drug companies - so many people don't realise just how powerful they are. IMHO, they are e-cigs biggest threat they have both the power & the money to bring down anything that is a threat to the sale (& therefore profits) to any of their products.

[Chrissie]

Oh wow Jaki, I really was about to go to bed but......

[omegaman]

Jun 17, 2010 22:38:54 GMT Chrissie said:

Oh wow Jaki, I really was about to go to bed but......

I think we can go off to bed now Chrissie.

The news isn't looking like breaking tonight.

[omegaman]

Jun 17, 2010 22:44:49 GMT @omegaman said:

Jun 17, 2010 22:38:54 GMT Chrissie said:

Oh wow Jaki, I really was about to go to bed but......

I think we can go off to bed now Chrissie.

Wow .. sorry that looks a bit naughty!

[jaki]

If you look elsewhere, the post is on another forum and in the news section of vapersnetwork.org/. I know Kate always updates us here, so I won't steal her thunder.