from New Scientist by Andy Coghlan

Legislation governing the sale of electronic cigarettes was approved yesterday by the European Parliament, which voted in the draft rules by 500 to 63, with 60 abstentions.

The move could set a precedent for legislation in other parts of the world where e cigarettes are still unregulated, especially in the US where guidance from the Food and Drug Administration is expected soon.

The European legislation allows shops to continue selling e cigarettes as consumer products to Europe’s estimated 10 million e cigarette smokers, or «vapers», rather than having them be regulated as medicines as proposed in an earlier draft of the law.

But the final draft, which now just needs to be approved by member states, does impose strict conditions on how e cigarettes can be formulated, advertised and sold.

From mid 2016, when the legislation comes into force, all advertising will be banned in the 28 European Union countries. E cigarette packaging will have to include modest written health warnings, that «nicotine is addictive and could be harmful», though there is scant evidence so far of ill effects from the products.

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European mps say ‘no’ to crackdown on electronic cigarettes

Critics fear electronic cigarettes could ‘trick’ young people into smoking GETTY

Backers of «e cigarettes» argued that a new licensing system would reduce availability of a key weapon against smoking and would penalise firms with large costs.

The UK Government wanted tighter regulation of the tobacco free products, which turn a solution containing nicotine into vapour which users «smoke» through a cylinder.

Critics fear they could «trick» young people into smoking. The Department of Health admitted it was disappointed the European Parliament had rejected stricter regulation and vowed to keep pressing for the devices to be treated like medicines.

The vote was the Parliament s first on the draft EU Tobacco Directive which could become law next year and be implemented across Europe within two years.

There will now be more negotiations between the Parliament and EU member states to try to get agreement before next May s European elections.

The UK s medicines regulator has already said it wants e cigs to be treated like other nicotine products to ensure their quality and content can be checked.

E cigarettes turn a nicotine solution into vapour which is ‘smoked’ through a cylinder GETTY

Forcing e cigs off the shelves would have been totally crazy

Tory MEP Martin Callanan

But British Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies welcomed the vote, saying «E cigs can be a game changer in the fight against smoking.»

Tory MEP Martin Callanan said «Forcing e cigs off the shelves would have been totally crazy.»

MEPs dismayed campaigners by rejecting a ban on flavoured brands, such as menthol cigarettes.

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