D Arnott was part of the NICE citizens consultation and heavily promoted NRT. NICE are on the MHRA consultation cc list, ASH(UK) are not (odd?). The MHRA options need to be read together with the NICE citizens council report to get an all around view.
As I said to Deewal on the other thread, ASH (UK) are likely to support option 1, which makes ejuice a medicine, as this supports their position and that of the RCP. This effectively also supports the FDA position in the US. (as does option 2). ASH (UK) support a 'harm reduction' strategy that involves medicinal nicotine, this is not where many want the e-cig positioned.
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With all due respect westcoast2, Deborah Arnott was backing Fire-Safe Cigarettes and was quoted by the BBC thus
"Deborah Arnott, of anti-smoking group Ash, said the cigarettes would mean a "significant decline" in fire deaths."
More than 100 people die in the UK every year from fires caused by cigarettes which are dropped or discarded without being extinguished.
I was not/am not aware that Fire- Safe Cigarettes are sold as or Marketed as a "Medicinal Nicotine" but as a "Harm Reduction Strategy" which is quite different. ASH UK have already stated in Document ASH_715.pdf available on their website.......
ASH’s position on e-cigarettes
ASH supports a harm reduction approach to tobacco, that is, we recognise that whilst
efforts to help people stop smoking should remain a priority, many people either do not wish
to stop smoking or
fi nd it very hard to do so. For this group, we believe that products should
be made available that deliver nicotine in a safe way, without the harmful components found
in tobacco. Most of the diseases associated with smoking are caused by inhaling smoke
which contains thousands of toxic chemicals. By contrast, nicotine is relatively safe.
Therefore, e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins found in tobacco
smoke, are likely to be a safer alternative to smoking. In addition, e-cigarettes reduce secondhand
smoke exposure since they do not produce smoke.
There are, however, a number of problems with e-cigarettes.
1. Most deliver a low dose of nicotine which may not give a typical smoker a suffi cient
‘hit’ to satisfy cravings, discouraging smokers from continuing to use them.
2. Because the products are unregulated there are some concerns about their safety
since few manufacturers disclose the ingredients of their products.
3. So far, there have been no clinical trials to prove that they can help people to stop
smoking. In the absence of such evidence, ASH therefore recommends that people who
want to quit smoking should use nicotine replacement therapy or other proven
pharmacological aids such as Champix (varenicline) or Zyban (bupropion).
Regulation
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has ruled that certain
brands of e-cigarettes cannot be classi
fi ed as medicinal products and therefore do not fall
under the remit of the MHRA. Although rulings are made on a case by case basis, it is likely
that the same ruling would apply to similar products. Currently, e-cigarettes are subject to
general consumer protection Iaws and it is the responsibility of trading standards offi cers to
rule on their safety.
Now the MHRA have changed their stance but as far as i am aware ASH UK has not Published an Addendum or Update to this Document.
By now we all know that Johnson and Johnson who are owned by GlaxoSmithKline who produce Nicorette have applied for a Licence for their "New Improved etc, etc" and had it granted by the MHRA who now wish to crush the opposition. ASH UK must be aware of this and are keeping their heads down as GlaxoSmithKline also just happen to own a large stake of The Phillip Morris Company who manufacture the Product which ASH was formed to fight against.