In three years’ time The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) will begin to regulate e-cigarettes as medicines when new
European-wide tobacco laws are due to be introduced.
The MHRA have confirmed from 2016, cigarette manufacturers will face
much stricter regulations than previously, being forced to adhere to
strict safety standards or risk their products being banned.
E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can
be highly addictive and may even cause heart problems.
However, there
are no harmful chemicals that are contained in regular tobacco
cigarettes such as carbon dioxide and tar. The decision, announced
yesterday by the MHRA, will cover all products currently on the market
that contain nicotine.
Along with smoking cessation medication such as Pfizer’s Champix,
e-cigarettes have increased in popularity over recent years and there
are an estimated 1.3million users just in the UK alone. The
battery-powered devices are designed to resemble a real cigarette, but
do not require any match or flame to be smoked.
Liquid nicotine is converted into a mist, or vapour, that the user
inhales – simulating the process of smoking. As the devices emit a
smoke-like water vapour, this has led to the term ‘vaping’ being
commonly referred to for their use.
E-cigarettes that are deemed fit for purpose and pass the new safety
standards will then be available to obtain on prescription from the NHS
as an aid for stopping smoking.
From 2016, smokers eager to quit will still be able to get their
e-cigarettes over the counter in supermarkets and newsagents, however
manufacturers will now have to apply for a licence beforehand and will
be prohibited at advertising any products judged to be targeted at
under-16s.
Currently there are chocolate and bubble-gum-flavoured products being
sold, but by 2016 it is unlikely these would be licensed. Some argue
those particular flavoured-products are merely a ‘gateway to smoking’
for youngsters, and risk helping them to smart smoking when otherwise
they wouldn’t.
The debate regarding the pros and cons of e-cigarettes is one that
will not go away anytime soon. Previously, health experts have voiced
their opinions that millions of lives could be saved if smokers switched
to e-cigarettes.
However, unlike regular cigarettes due to the smoking ban, the
electronic devices are permitted to be smoked in public places such as
bars, restaurants and public transport. There are those who believe this
is ‘normalising’ something which is now generally viewed as
unacceptable.
Speaking yesterday after the news was announced of the proposed
regulations, Jeremy Mean, group manager of vigilance and risk management
of medicines at the MHRA, said: “Reducing the harms of smoking to
smokers and those around them is a key government health priority. Our
research has shown that existing electronic cigarettes and other
nicotine-containing products on the market are not good enough to meet
this public health priority. Some NCPs (nicotine-containing products)
are already licensed and the government’s decision to work towards
medicines licensing for all these products is designed to deliver
quality products that will support smokers to cut down and to quit. The
decision announced today provides a framework that will enable good
quality products to be widely available. It’s not about banning products
that some people find useful, it’s about making sure that smokers have
an effective alternative that they can rely on to meet their needs.”
Whether people can completely rely on e-cigarettes though remains to
be seen. In the past experts have stated that users of the products
cannot be guarantee of the purity of the nicotine contained inside them
and MHRA research has discovered that amounts of nicotine can be
‘considerably different’ from the level printed on the label, casting
doubt on exactly how useful the products are to those who are trying to
cut down or stop smoking, a MHRA spokesman said.
The previously mentioned smoking cessation medication Champix is a
drug which contains no nicotine and works by stimulating the nicotine
receptors in the brain, thereby reducing craving and withdrawal symptoms
you may experience when stopping smoking. In addition, Champix can also
reduce the enjoyment of cigarettes if you do smoke when on the
treatment. Champix is available today from Medically Specialists
Pharmacy from as little as just £75.00 per pack, a small price to
protect your long-term health.
We don't need strict regulations when it comes to electronic cigarettes, these devices are safer and there is no doubt about it.
ReplyDelete