The global battle over e-cigarettes

[AegisPrime]

Very good article here.

The chair of France’s Office of Smoking Prevention, Bertrand Dautzenberg, has described e-cigarettes as “marvelous news in the fight against tobacco,” a position apparently undermined by a recent Toulouse court ruling that e-cigarettes should only be sold by licensed tobacconists.

The ruling is seen as a win for the tobacco industry because it could force the closure of more than 140 independent e-cigarette shops across the country and provide tobacco companies — which are moving fast into vaping — with the lion’s share of the French e-cigarette market.

In Britain, the government plans to regulate e-cigarettes as medicine from 2016.

Professor Robert West, of the Health Behavior Research Center at University College London, is at the forefront of e-cigarette research in the UK. He says that move is “problematic.”

“The cost would be prohibitive for most companies and would most likely leave the tobacco industry with the market,” he said.

 

[Kent C]

"“The advertising and marketing practices of the electronic cigarette industry need robust regulation,” said Devlin, who welcomed a current review of the UK’s e-cigarette advertising guidelines."

This is the head of ECITA - UK's version of CASAA and the problem that trade organizations (think guilds and unions) can have, that I've mentioned in earlier posts. Basically where purported "consumer protection" organizations end up being 3 and 4 (or 5) letter gov't entities.

 

[Orb Skewer]

"“The advertising and marketing practices of the electronic cigarette industry need robust regulation,” said Devlin, who welcomed a current review of the UK’s e-cigarette advertising guidelines."

This is the head of ECITA - UK's version of CASAA and the problem that trade organizations (think guilds and unions) can have, that I've mentioned in earlier posts. Basically where purported "consumer protection" organizations end up being 3 and 4 (or 5) letter gov't entities.

ECITA is a trade org, its US equivelent would be AEMSA, CASSA (USA) and ECCA(UK) are the consumer orgs

 

[RayBans]

I have a one letter answer here "F"
Seriously, I can understand that if I blow a plume of vapor in a restaurant how some people might be offended, and how government officials may want to ban that. What can I say except; Vape wisely my friends.

 

[AegisPrime]

"“The advertising and marketing practices of the electronic cigarette industry need robust regulation,” said Devlin, who welcomed a current review of the UK’s e-cigarette advertising guidelines."

This is the head of ECITA - UK's version of CASAA and the problem that trade organizations (think guilds and unions) can have, that I've mentioned in earlier posts. Basically where purported "consumer protection" organizations end up being 3 and 4 (or 5) letter gov't entities.

I'm of two minds on the whole advertising thing - personally I feel that e-cigs should be marketed as any other lifestyle choice - Pepsi or Coke? Blu or Green Smoke? However, ECITA in this case would seem to be keen on e-cigs specifically targeting smokers that want a healthier alternative or a more effective means of smoking cessation - is that wrong? Maybe it's the only route they see that can make e-cigs 'acceptable' in the government and public eye.

As a vaper and a consumer I think it's wrong, but ECITA represent a number of e-cig manufacturers and distributors and so are acting on behalf of their interests so what do I know?

 

[BuGlen]

I'm of two minds on the whole advertising thing - personally I feel that e-cigs should be marketed as any other lifestyle choice - Pepsi or Coke? Blu or Green Smoke? However, ECITA in this case would seem to be keen on e-cigs specifically targeting smokers that want a healthier alternative or a more effective means of smoking cessation - is that wrong? Maybe it's the only route they see that can make e-cigs 'acceptable' in the government and public eye.

As a vaper and a consumer I think it's wrong, but ECITA represent a number of e-cig manufacturers and distributors and so are acting on behalf of their interests so what do I know?

Yes, you are absolutely correct. Trade organizations act in accordance with, and to the benefit of, their members. Their members are manufacturers (and vendors?), but they do not represent the public interest or that of the consumer by default. Many do include consumer interest in their strategy, and that's very good PR for the member companies when they do, but it's not required.

 

[Kent C]

ECITA is a trade org, its US equivelent would be AEMSA, CASSA (USA) and ECCA(UK) are the consumer orgs

CASAA mission statement:

Our mission is to ensure the availability of effective, affordable and reduced harm alternatives to smoking by increasing public awareness and education; to encourage the testing and development of products to achieve acceptable safety standards and reasonable regulation; and to promote the benefits of reduced harm alternatives.