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WHO report on regulation of e-cigarettes and similar products

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On July 21, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its report “Electronic nicotine delivery systems” (ENDS), to examine emerging evidence on the health impacts of ENDS, which include electronic cigarettes. The WHO report states that there is a need for legislation that will impede e-cigarette promotion to non-smokers and minors, lower potential health risks to e-cigarette users and nonusers, provide limits and bans on unproven health claims about e-cigarettes, and protect existing tobacco control efforts. The report also states the need for additional studies on the advertisement and indoor use of these devices.

The regulations outlined in the report include a ban on e-cigarettes with fruit, candy-like and alcohol-drink flavours until it can be proven they are not attractive to children and adolescents. The report also says existing evidence shows that e-cigarette aerosol is not merely “water vapour” as is often claimed in the marketing of these products. Read the WHOs August 26, 2014 media release.