Taking a look at UK vape regulations
21st February 2022“e-cigarettes are not regulated and we don’t know what’s in them” – we’ve all heard this at some point, but the reality is that the UK does have some of the strictest e-cigarette regulations in the world today. This week we are taking a look at these regulations and busting a few myths while we’re at it.
E-cigarettes are thoroughly regulated
Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, e-cigarette products are subject to minimum standards of quality and safety, as well as packaging and labelling requirements to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices.
Testing
E-liquid products are thoroughly tested by independent laboratory analysis which ensures that the final products are free of harmful ingredients or contaminants, while atomisers and coils must pass strict emissions tests. Ongoing research means that lab testing criteria is reviewed and updated regularly.
Once they have passed the testing stage, products must then be notified by manufacturers to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with detailed information including the listing of all ingredients. Further to this, Mirage also has ISO 90001 certification and a dedicated Compliance & Quality manager to ensure that standards are met and exceeded at every step of the manufacturing process.
Sales and Advertising
E-cigarette products are ‘age restricted items’, meaning that like tobacco and alcohol they are not allowed to be sold to those under 18 years of age, by law. Stringent advertising regulations prevent the vast majority of e-cigarette ads, generally the same as those that apply to tobacco. Product packaging must not be misleading and must display all relevant safety warnings and information. Bottle size for nicotine containing e-liquid is limited to 10ml, while the maximum tank size is limited to 2ml, with Trading Standards ensuring compliance.
Ongoing Research
Public Health England (PHE), NHS, Cancer Research UK and Royal College of Physicians, among many others, have carried out constant and ongoing research for a number of years with the consensus being that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. PHE have carried out a yearly review of studies around vaping, such as health implications, environmental impact, effectiveness as a method of stopping smoking (smoking cessation) and the uptake of vaping in the UK population.
Ongoing studies into societal issues such as the possibility of vaping leading young people into smoking, have been conducted for several years and closely monitor the effects on the number of people taking up smoking, using e-cigarettes to reduce their smoking or to quit and the overall public perception of smoking in general. All studies so far have shown that smoking rates among young people continues to decline, vaping has not caused an increase in young smokers and that regular use of e-cigarettes among young people is confined almost entirely to those who already smoke.
Effectiveness as an aid to help smokers quit
A major UK NIHR funded clinical trial was published in February 2019. Involving nearly 900 participants, it found that in Local Stop Smoking Services, a standard e-cigarette was twice as effective at helping smokers to quit compared with the quitters’ choice of combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Both groups were provided with behavioural support and those in the e-cigarette group had significantly faster reductions in cough and phlegm.
PHE, NHS and Cancer Research UK all support vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking.
References:
Effectiveness as an aid to help smokers quit
A major UK NIHR funded clinical trial was published in February 2019. Involving nearly 900 participants, it found that in Local Stop Smoking Services, a standard e-cigarette was twice as effective at helping smokers to quit compared with the quitters’ choice of combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Both groups were provided with behavioural support and those in the e-cigarette group had significantly faster reductions in cough and phlegm.
PHE, NHS and Cancer Research UK all support vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking.
References:
