EU draft directive to be presented on wed 19th Dec

Looks like the UK will be allowed to use e-cigs until at least 2016, when they will then be classed as medicines and probably withdrawn from the market for clinical trials. Once complete they will be sold in pharmacies only.

BBC Reports:
He told a news conference: "We can't recommend these products because their safety and quality is not assured, and so we will recommend that people don't use them."

The MHRA had decided not to ban the products entirely but to work towards a position where they are licensed, he added.

"Smoking is the riskiest thing you can do - we want to enable people to cut down and quit - we don't think a ban is a proportionate action."

The health campaign body, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said the action will ensure promotion to children or non-smokers is prohibited.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: "MHRA regulation can ensure that adult smokers can continue to be able to buy e-cigarettes as easily as tobacco, but promotion to children or non-smokers will be prohibited."

The British Medical Association, which has called for stronger regulation of e-cigarettes, says health professionals should encourage their patients to use a regulated and licensed nicotine replacement therapy (such as patches or gum) to help quit smoking.

It says health professional may advise patients that while e-cigarettes are unregulated and their safety cannot be assured, they are likely to be a lower risk option than continuing to smoke.

Research suggests around 1.3m smokers and ex-smokers use e-cigarettes. Once licensed, they will remain on sale over-the-counter.

Its on sky news, MHRA reckon "nicotine levels can be considerably different from the level stated on the label and the amount per product differed from batch to batch".
I would love to know what juice or pre-filled carts they were testing.
Looks like the price of juice is gonna go trough the roof.

Cloud9Vaping's response to the MHRA announcement
We are currently being bombarded by emails from customers who have seen and heard the news reports today regarding the MHRA's announcement about their intention to regulate electronic cigarettes as medicines.
Customers are asking whether we will obtain a medicine licence or will we close.

The answer is neither!

Forcing our products to be licenced as medicinal devices is incorrect application of the medicines licensing framework, unethical and most likely illegal, given that traditional cigarettes are allowed to be sold freely to over 18s, and we are not making any claims as to a curative or medicinal effect or treatment for any disease.
The MHRA decision will be challenged, we're not going anywhere, and will not be applying for a medicinal licence for any of our recreational products.

They're urging people to buy off vendors that follow current rules and regulations. Thing is.. I didnt know there were any rules and regulations in the ecig industry, besides maybe a few warnings about not selling to minors, which is impossible to regulate with internet sales.

Vaperus wrote: »

Yes there are rules and regulations but not enforced correct and detailed labelling, testing certs for hardware, liquid testing plus the selling to over 18's etc There's a whole bunch

Im only 12 ;-)
Only jokin, dont close my account!!

heliguyheliguy wrote: »

I think they are more industry standards for hazardous liquids.. safe containers clear labeling that includes visual and tactile alerts.
The labeling should display the contents accurately and the source of the product.

I don't know of any irish vendor doing this, but i'm sure they are.

Edit: These rules are based around the needs of emergency response teams and the need to act quickly with as much information as possible in the event of an emergency.

Wingnuts new containers include visual and tactile alerts

tommy2bad wrote: »

I posted this on ECF and it's worth repeating here for those who don't frequent Sissyland, good an all as it is.
(Yes I'm modest )

OK lets get this straight, from 2016 only medicinal licensed ecigs will be allowed on the market. Seems fair at least it's a level playing field.
No wait, they stated that no current product meets the standard. So then all the ecigs we are now using will be removed 21 Jan 2016.
They could in the meantime apply for a license though and if they are sufficiently safe and efficacious, could gain a license.
Bearing in mind that this is a medicine license, what dose efficacious mean? Well they cite varying nicotine levels and variation between devices. Presumably then their version of efficacious means less varity in devices as consistency in delivery of nicotine dose is part of their standards."The products won’t be assessed for how effective they are in helping people quit," Mean said. So no testing for effectiveness as a quit aid
3 years time and the market will have grown enough for the few licensed products to clean up on their not inconsiderable investment. No wonder Nicolites, the only license applicant so far released this http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/06/13/nicolites-welcomes-decision-classify-e-cigarettes-medicine-and-expects-no-change

Make no mistake this is a ban and a snatch and grab by big tobacco on the market as it now exists. End result single unit disposable ecigs in menthol and orignal flavors only. They will be matt white, blue or grey and come in a big box with a sheet of small print included, retailing at 15 to 20 pounds initially, dropping to 20 cigarettes equivalent pricing later after they have established their good intentions not to market to children and non smokers.
Oh and expect public use bans and sin taxes, remember that these are not encouraging you to quit as a good citizen should.

So fumming mad at both the incompetence and hypocrisy of the MHRA .

Remember that we usually take English law and put a green frock with shiny harp emblazoned buttons on it and call it Irish law.

Pretty sure its a proposal, so not a done deal yet. All the same we should all be reacting to oppose it.

heliguyheliguy wrote: »

Pretty sure its a proposal, so not a done deal yet. All the same we should all be reacting to oppose it.

Oh yeah, it's a proposal put forward to infulence the EU tpd so the dirty work will be done for them but it gives us some idea of what the pharmaceutical industry (thats what the mrha is, a regulator funded by pharma and staffed by pharma insiders) would like as the end game.
Here in Ireland we don't proactive act on things like this unless Joe Duffer starts it but you can be sure the pharma lobby group are already 'bringing to attention' the danger of an unregulated market.

So here's the latest for Ireland this time...

http://www.thejournal.ie/reilly-electronic-cigarettes-ireland-957646-Jun2013/

Time to send emails/letters again!

The comment on in flights e-cigs is showing the level of ignorance the Minister has I think its fair to say (In flights products sold are smokeless inhalers...)

OK, who do we need to start writing to? Reilly Cnutface himself? Our local TDs? Both?

A hitman ?