UK regulation of electronic cigarettes
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We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to: 'ensure that electronic cigarette products and their use is regulated appropriately for recreational purposes rather than seek to define vaping as smoking, tobacco use or medical therapy.'
Electronic cigarettes offer a genuine alternative for smokers which can satisfy the smoking habit without the enormous known harms. These life saving products have been widely available for over three years and have zero known serious harmful effects, they are considered by respected harm reduction experts to be at least 99\% safer than smoking.
Inappropriate regulation will harm people by discouraging use and will make an effective smoke alternative as ineffective as NRT such as gums and patches.
The fact that contamination with diethylene glycol was found at a level of 'approximately 1\%' by the US FDA in one cartridge sample illustrates the need for government acceptance so that proper standards can be introduced to protect consumers. Inappropriate regulation can only create problems by encouraging an unregulated black market, remove an effective reduced harm option for smokers and force people to continue smoking.
Proposals to classify such products as tobacco or smoking are not based on fact - there is no tobacco, smoke or burning. Neither is this a therapeutic practice as it is not intended for and has no proof of effectiveness in treating addiction.
Sale of these products in the UK is already covered by the Poisons Act 1972 (maximum nicotine content of 7.5\%), CHIP standards (for packaging), CE mark regulations (for electrical goods) and general trading laws which say the products must be fit for purpose.
Thoughtful legislation that would protect young people from toxins and addiction is clearly desirable and it would be responsible to allow availability of these products only to young people who would otherwise smoke.
Making a legal action illegal because of moral judgements, misinformation or confusion with something perceived to be undesirable is unjustifiable.
Vaping (using an ecig) is a recreational habit that should be regulated and protected appropriately, adult citizens can make their own informed decisions in choosing what they enjoy to do.
Electronic cigarettes offer a genuine alternative for smokers which can satisfy the smoking habit without the enormous known harms. These life saving products have been widely available for over three years and have zero known serious harmful effects, they are considered by respected harm reduction experts to be at least 99\% safer than smoking.
Inappropriate regulation will harm people by discouraging use and will make an effective smoke alternative as ineffective as NRT such as gums and patches.
The fact that contamination with diethylene glycol was found at a level of 'approximately 1\%' by the US FDA in one cartridge sample illustrates the need for government acceptance so that proper standards can be introduced to protect consumers. Inappropriate regulation can only create problems by encouraging an unregulated black market, remove an effective reduced harm option for smokers and force people to continue smoking.
Proposals to classify such products as tobacco or smoking are not based on fact - there is no tobacco, smoke or burning. Neither is this a therapeutic practice as it is not intended for and has no proof of effectiveness in treating addiction.
Sale of these products in the UK is already covered by the Poisons Act 1972 (maximum nicotine content of 7.5\%), CHIP standards (for packaging), CE mark regulations (for electrical goods) and general trading laws which say the products must be fit for purpose.
Thoughtful legislation that would protect young people from toxins and addiction is clearly desirable and it would be responsible to allow availability of these products only to young people who would otherwise smoke.
Making a legal action illegal because of moral judgements, misinformation or confusion with something perceived to be undesirable is unjustifiable.
Vaping (using an ecig) is a recreational habit that should be regulated and protected appropriately, adult citizens can make their own informed decisions in choosing what they enjoy to do.
5472 Signatures
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Kate
- Comments
- I hope we can keep this great smoking alternative available and effective.
- Nationality
- British
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Russell VR Ord
- Nationality
- British
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Jackie
- Nationality
- British
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Tom Pruen
- Nationality
- British
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Ralph Hilton
- Nationality
- Britiish
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J Langdown
- Nationality
- English
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Derek Hollier-Day
- Comments
- Vaping has probably saved my life, don't you DARE ban it.
- Nationality
- White British
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L.Kirby
- Comments
- My health depends on these.
- Nationality
- British
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Paul Forshaw
- Nationality
- English
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Fred
- Nationality
- British
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Fred
- Nationality
- British
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kevin waddell
- Nationality
- uk
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Colin Day
- Comments
- I quit smoking using an e-cigarette
- Nationality
- British
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j k clarke
- Nationality
- british/english
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Nicola Creighton
- Nationality
- English
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Denise
- Nationality
- British
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Tim Boniface
- Comments
- Since i discovered the ecig over a year ago i have not smoked at all, it has changed my life for the better and i can honestly say i have noticed a marked improvement in my health
- Nationality
- British
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Derek Scott Jolly
- Nationality
- British
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Lynda Walters
- Nationality
- British
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John Mullin
- Comments
- I no longer stink like an ashtray thanks to these things!
- Nationality
- Northern Irish
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Penny Roberts
- Comments
- I was given my first personal vaporizer (e-cigarette) on December 5th '09 since which date I've not smoked one single cigarette or other traditional tobacco product. I've been a smoker for 44 years and have tried every cessation product available without success. Since using my electronic nicotine inhalator, I've regained my sense of smell and taste and my hitherto persistent cough has disappeared. I would hate to be driven back to smoking tobacco again but I fear this will be the case should vaporizers (e-cigarettes) be unavailable to me. I enjoy using my vaporizer and no longer have any desire to return to tobacco but feel no pressure to give up 'vaping'. I'm in favour of quality control but not excessive regulation of what I consider to be a recreational/relaxation device.
- Nationality
- English
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Norman Jump
- Nationality
- English
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John Russell
- Nationality
- british
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Lee Sullivan
- Comments
- I brought an an electronic Cigarette for a friend because I was fed up with having to cough and suffer the headaches of being around the cigarette smoke everytime I was around them, Personally I'm a non-smoker and the difference it has made is amazing! Their place smells much better plus I dont suffer the headaches and coughing which I used to while visiting. They too seem to be in much better health since starting the electronic Cigarettes.
- Nationality
- English
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Jay Rothgeb
- Nationality
- US
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t fletcher
- Comments
- 16 month smoke free thanks to these
- Nationality
- english
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alan freeman
- Nationality
- english
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Mark Morgan
- Comments
- I have been using e-cigs and smoke free for a month now and already have 4 other people interested in quitting smoking in favour of vaping. The health benefits (even if there were any ill effects from them) and improved quality of life of myself and those around me far outweigh any unjustified oblections due to their similarity to regular cigarettes and if allowed to continue production companies may find ways to improve upon the design, making them a more than adequate replacement for regular cigs (for those like me who have no intention of quitting), and as a self reulated quitting aid (by selecting lower doses a user can ween themselves off tobacco) and even continue safely vaping at 0\% nicotine should the habbit prove to much to give up entirely.
- Nationality
- british
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John A.
- Comments
- These e-cigs are truly amazing. I can now walk the 600 yards to the bus stop without feeling like I've just completed a half marathon. We also need to get the licensing trade up to speed regarding e-cigs as there is still far too much ignorance regarding their use in pubs etc.....
- Nationality
- English
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Mark Stiles
- Comments
- I stopped smoking after over 40 years using these things - haven't smoked in a year
- Nationality
- UK
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Wayne Punter
- Comments
- I have given up smoking, after never being able to do so before, so easily using electronic cigarettes. I vaped on my first E-NI on 20 September 2009. I smoked my last cigarette on the same day. It was that easy. They should be available on the NHS. Please allow me to keep on buying the products I use from the UK and not be forced into a black market scenario where I will have no reasonable way of knowing if the products I use are safe. Listen to the facts and not the propaganda and consider us for once rather than the tax revenue you get from cigarettes. You are supposed to work FOR the people, not against us.
- Nationality
- English, British
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Kirsteen Manson
- Nationality
- British
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Kevin Fosh
- Nationality
- BRITISH
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Mary
- Nationality
- British
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bill wilkinson
- Comments
- Donot allow big money to override common sense please regulate appropriately
- Nationality
- english
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Chrissie Gray
- Comments
- I used to be a very heavy smoker until i started using an electronic cigarette over 18 months ago.
- Nationality
- British
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Martin Douglas
- Nationality
- British
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Chris Birks
- Comments
- This will save lives
- Nationality
- British
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Marcus Thomas
- Nationality
- British
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Patricia Malcolm
- Comments
- 5 decades of smoking, no hope of giving up, then along comes the E-CIG, and by that miracle I haven't touched a tobacco product for 14 months - and I know I never will again with my e-cig beside me. Nothing else worked.
- Nationality
- British
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m.parsons
- Nationality
- gb
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Carol Wills
- Nationality
- British
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Chris Heseltine
- Nationality
- British
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Ron Heseltine
- Nationality
- British
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Rik Dowding
- Comments
- This product deserves to be validated. it has stopped me killing myself with 20 cigarettes a day. I have tried allsorts of cessation devices before (although this is not a cessation device) and none have worked. I wasn't even looking to give up when i tried an e-cig and yet i have. Surely that says something about the power of these things.
- Nationality
- British
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James Dunworth
- Nationality
- British
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I Gant
- Nationality
- GB
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Anne Phillips
- Comments
- I agree PV's and their liquids need recognition and regulation to protect users, this is an exciting product and has the potential to be a lifesaving product, now at last, smokers have a realistic way to protect their precious health...
- Nationality
- Scottish
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Chris Andrews
- Nationality
- British
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Jessica Rose Ord
- Nationality
- British
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5472
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