In News

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

In a position paper outlining its views on e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems, Pharmacy Voice (PV) has urged the MHRA to €swiftly develop processes to enable the licensing of suitable products€.

Concerned that the younger generation could be affected by the marketing of e-cigarettes, especially through the adoption of 'flavouring' particular products, Pharmacy Voice says it is important not to sell them to anyone under the age of 18 years and to ensure that all marketing is aimed exclusively at current smokers.

Although there is little current evidence about the effects of the passive smoking from e-cigarettes, PV says they should be prohibited in public places until more is under- stood about their long-term health consequences. €This would ensure that their use does not undermine current efforts to ensure smoking is not seen as a 'normal' public activity,€ says PV.

It is important e-cigarettes are properly regulated to align with current NRT products, says PV chief executive Rob Darracott. €It is equally important that they are not glorified in any way or marketed at non-smokers as a fashion accessory, or act as a gateway to smoking tobacco.

€Where a pharmacy owner decides to sell e-cigarettes, we believe pharmacists should be free to exercise their clinical judgment, as they would normally do in the exercise of their professional practice.€