Russia: World Health Organisation Calls for Urgent Probe into E-cigarettes

Source from:  Voice of Russia RUVR (ru)  10/20/2014

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for a global investigation into the control and prevention of e-cigarettes. A WHO survey, revealed at its Convention on Tobacco Control in Moscow this week, found that e-cigarettes are classed as non-tobacco products in many countries and that the ingredients of them on the market are only regulated in 22% of countries.

The survey was conducted between November 2013 and April 2014 among all WHO Member States, 90 of whom responded, representing 77% of the world's population.

It found that smokeless tobacco products (SLTs) products are only regulated under tobacco laws in only 26% of the countries, both tobacco and food safety laws in (19%), and under other laws in 23%. In the rest, it is not known under which the laws SLT products are regulated.

It also found that the production, distribution, and sale of SLT products are under some regulation in 54 countries (66%). The contents and ingredients of SLT products on the market are regulated in only nine countries (22%).

The regulation of e-cigarettes varies widely around the world. In the last decade or so, the introduction of SLT products into many eastern and southern sub-Saharan African countries "has mostly gone unnoticed by health and revenue".

In Brazil, SLT products are allowed for sale if they are registered with the national health regulatory agency, ANVISA. However, since none are registered, SLT products sold in Brazil are illegal.

While Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have adopted policies banning the sale and importation of SLT products, relevant regulatory controls are mostly absent in the Region.

The European Union (EU) provided leadership on regulatory practices, including through the recently revised Tobacco Products Directive that governs the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products.

EU member countries regulate SLT products by prohibiting the sale of tobacco for oral use, which includes all products for oral consumption made of tobacco except those intended to be smoked or chewed. Sweden, however, is exempted from this regulation.

Little research into e-cigarettes

The survey found there was little research on SLT and adverse health or the economic costs of their use. Data on SLT product marketing strategies are also very limited and information on the cost of health care to treat SLT-related disease is non-existent.

WHO is calling for further research to be carried out and says manufacturers should be required to disclose to governments all ingredients and harmful and potentially harmful constituents of their SLT products.

They should also reduce the appeal of SLT products by banning or regulating sweeteners and flavouring substances (including herbs, spices, and flowers).

WHO warns that: "No health claims or claims of reduced exposure or harm should be allowed until scientific evidence in support of such claims has been reviewed and approved by an independent, scientific government regulatory agency". Enditem