Nicotine regulation: UK future

[Kit]

i would rather be taxed than have no juice at all..bloody government!

[Kate]

I think we will find that we are lucky in the UK because there is an unregulated category esmoking can slip into at the moment. It can be classed as an alternative nicotine product rather than a tobacco product or medicinal product. That means that, for now, we avoid tobacco bans and the regulation required for medicines. It's just a matter of time before regulations catch up with alternative nicotine products so we need to keep trying to make it as safe as possible.

It's possible that the Royal College of Physicians and the Department of Health will be sympathetic to damage reduction techniques in the UK and will not back heavy taxation when regulation comes into force. They say they want to encourage alternatives to cigarettes by keeping the price of the alternatives low in comparison with cigs.

Other countries haven't got the same categories and are faced with bans or proof of health status (which we currently don't have).

[Kit]

thats good to hear kate.

[TropicalBob]

I read today that the U.S. Congress is so busy trying to save the world from The Great Depression that it won't act on bills to give FDA further authority to regulate tobacco and/or nicotine. The longer e-smoking avoids government inquiry, the better the chances of amassing harm reduction studies to show the benefits of what we do.

[Kit]

I read today that the U.S. Congress is so busy trying to save the world from The Great Depression that it won't act on bills to give FDA further authority to regulate tobacco and/or nicotine. The longer e-smoking avoids government inquiry, the better the chances of amassing harm reduction studies to show the benefits of what we do.

[Rorschach]

I read today that the U.S. Congress is so busy trying to save the world from The Great Depression that it won't act on bills to give FDA further authority to regulate tobacco and/or nicotine. The longer e-smoking avoids government inquiry, the better the chances of amassing harm reduction studies to show the benefits of what we do.

I bet the Senators and Congressmen are so angry that they actually have to do some REAL WORK.....it's horrible!

[Kate]

It sounds like the UK authorities are taking action now and are stopping a lot of dodgy practices like claiming to be smoking cessation therapy and inadequate handling of nicotine.

If trading standards are the only regulatory body involved then I think vendors will have to comply with COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) HSE - Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) HSE - Publications: Free leaflets - Chemicals , CHIP (Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations) HSE - Chemicals (hazard information and packaging for supply) http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg350.pdf and the Health and Safety at Work Act Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 ? legislation explained.

When/if esmoking is being regulated for smoking cessation therapy then MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency) MHRA ? Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - Home page and NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Technology appraisals will become involved.

It may be that, if the Department of Health and the Royal College of Physicians get their way, then we will have a new regulatory authority to deal with tobacco and nicotine. They will look at non-medical nicotine and may decide it has to meet medical criteria to be approved for use.

[bro]

Hello all,
I have been reading the posts and am still baffled by the possible regulation.
I am not selling the product and have been using the e-cig for a few weeks.
Is it just the cartridges that are under scrutiny or the whole device.
Surely any shop can sell a battery and an atomiser ? So presumably it must be the cartridge ? If the cartridges were sold 'empty' and a person decided to fill them up at home with a home made liquid of glycerin without any nicotine, what is the problem.
Come to that what is the problem if the user wants to make their own mixture that does contain nicotine ?
I am totally baffled by the so called legailty of all this and would really appreciate any help understanding it all.
If I put some mixture that does not contain nicotine into my e-cig then is that o.k.. Can the sellers sell cartridges that are nicotine free
Thanks
Bro

[Kate]

Hi Bro, welcome to the forum.

The only regulations I've heard being enforced in the UK are trading and health and safety laws. Individuals are not restricted from obtaining and using nicotine. One day there may be legislation but for now we can do what we like.

[bro]

Thanks Kate,
I had been reading about the fella that had stock confiscated and after re-reading the posts it does say that it was trading standards that were involved.
I use my e-cig most everywhere and apart from a few strange looks I find myself recommending the product to the inquisitive.
I would be happy to see the ingredients of the cartridges subjected to scrutiny as the melamine scare in the babies milk in China is a good example of unscrupulous manufacturers.
I don't think the government would be happy to just regulate the quality of the cartridges, they would definitely want to be able to get some revenue. The pharmaceutical companies will be lobbying to get the cartridges banned (unless they were the sole manufacturers) as the usual NRT would not be so much in demand. The tobacco companies would like the cartridges banned as they would lose sales.
As our government have their pockets lined from both, then a ban would be in the governments favour. Unless of course they could make enough in tax from the cartridges as the bribes they receive from the pharms and the tobacco industry.
What a muddle !!
There are so many different angles to the advent of the e-cig.
Bro