E-Cigarettes Threatened in EU

A storm is brewing in the EU.  Proposed changes in European Union Law could effectively ban e-cigarettes through much of Europe.

A review of the EU Tobacco Products Directive is underway which could classify e-cigarettes as a tobacco product. Anything containing more than 4mg of nicotine would be classified as a medicinal product, and would require government approval following what would likely be prohibitively costly testing.

“To gain authorisation under the new regime, e-cigarettes would have to undergo expensive clinical trials – rendering them commercially non-viable and effectively banning them.”

This all comes on the heels of what appeared to be a rather positive outlook on e-cigarettes on the part of EU government and medical authorities, including the Royal College of Physicians and the Cabinet Office’s Behavioral Insight Team, in recent years.

While there may be provisions in the law that would allow e-cigarettes to still be sold without all of the expensive testing, expect a long and loud battle before we see how this will turn out.

Up in a puff of smoke? EU plan threatens e-cigarettes – The Independent

E-Cigarettes Threatened in EU