EU Dutch sound alarm about possible risks

[WhiteHighlights]

I saw this link when reading a story about NYC. It started out ok: Dutch sound alarm about possible risks of e-cigarettes

The Dutch Health Ministry sounded an early warning on Thursday about the possible health risks of electronic cigarettes, announcing plans to clamp down on labelling ahead of European regulations.

The move followed an analysis of existing scientific research by the National Institute for Public Health, the leading Dutch government health advisory body.

The institute said it was concerned about a lack of evidence on the possible health effects of e-cigarettes, and said that as a precaution, they should not be used by pregnant women or in the vicinity of children.

I'd like to see the NIPH analysis, but the precautionary statement wasn't too bad compared to the usual 'we don't know so ban it' position I've seen all to often. We could supply the NIPH with the Drexel study to correct the last part.

Then it goes into the dangers of smoking and devolves into..

The Dutch institute also recommended banning flavour and scent enhancers in e-cigarettes that contain nicotine because of concerns they may attract children to smoking.

Citing the institute's findings, Dutch deputy health minister Martin Van Rijn argued that e-cigarettes are as addictive as tobacco cigarettes because they contain nicotine, and he said there was no proof of claims by manufacturers that they help smokers quit.

The opening line doesn't seem to match the later portions of the article. Are the rules in the EU similar to the US that a manufacturers don't make claims about helping smokers quit because they can't without running into trouble?

 

[emus]

If ciggie sales drop as e-cig sales soar, regulators with a functioning brain may suspect e-cigs can help smokers quit.