Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Health
5th November 2013 - Olivia Mitchell TD
To ask the Minister for Health his views on the proposed restriction of e-cigarettes as medical products which could result in them being more costly and less accessible than traditional tobacco cigarette; and if he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
The report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group ‘Tobacco Free Ireland’ was launched on the 3rd October 2013. The report recommends the establishment of a regulatory framework for nicotine products in the context of discussions at European Union level. Last December, the Commission published a proposal for a new EU Tobacco Products Directive, the ultimate purpose of which is to reduce the numbers of people smoking. The proposal is being discussed in the European Parliament and Council of Ministers and the Commission hope that it will be adopted in 2014. Nicotine containing products such as e-cigarettes are being considered in the context of this proposed tobacco products directive.
In relation to e-cigarettes the World Health Organisation has noted that the safety has not been established and that not enough scientific evidence exists currently to validate the claim that these products are effective smoking cessation aids.
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