Rachel has issued the following response:
I note concerns about the regulation of e-cigarettes.
I am aware that the Government recognises that e-cigarettes help some smokers to quit and the evidence indicates that they are considerably less harmful to health than cigarettes. At the same time, it is essential that we do not encourage smoking and continue to protect children from the effects of nicotine.
As the European Tobacco Products Directive is already part of UK law and the British Government will continue to meet all its legal obligations. I know that he Department of Health is committed to a full review of the functioning of the regulations which implement the Tobacco Products Directive, within five years of entering into force. The impact of these regulations on the use of e-cigarettes is one of the many areas that the Government will want to consider carefully as part of the process of leaving the EU.
My fellow ministers understand that e-cigarettes are helpful to some people wishing to quit smoking, but the quality of products on the market remains highly variable. It is therefore important that proportionate regulation is introduced to ensure minimum safety requirements and that information is provided to consumers so that they can make informed choices.
In implementing this, the Government has worked towards regulation that permits a range of products, to remain on the market which are positioned as alternatives to smoking, not as products that introduce children to vaping or smoking. Since May 2016, e-cigarettes that are licenced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are still able to be advertised, and the advertising of all other e-cigarettes is no longer permitted on television.
I hope that this reassures everyone who contacted me about this important issue that the new rules do not aim to prevent people from using e-cigarettes, but rather to provide consumers with safer, less variable products.
Date published: 22 July 2017
As with all items in the FAQ Library, answers are subject to modification owing to events and changes in underlying circumstances. If you would like an answer that is more specific to your circumstances, or to seek and up-to-date response, please email rachel.maclean.mp@parliament.uk.
