Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes as they're more commonly known as, will soon become regulated as medicines in Britain under a new regulatory system announced on Wednesday. E-cigarette manufacturers quickly responded and said they will not co-operate unless forced to do so by EU law.
Manufacturers have been asked to classify their product as medicine, but many have refused. The government is backing plans for a European Union-wide law, which could come into effect by 2016 and would require e-cigarettes to have a medical license, officials said. The products are used by an estimated 1.3 million people.
E-cigarettes and other nicotine products will be licensed in the U.K. and sold as over-the-counter medicines starting in 2016. Until, the U.K. regulator says e-cigarettes aren't recommended for use but won't be banned entirely.
"Reducing the harms of smoking to smokers and those around them is a key government health priority," said Jeremy Mean, group manager of vigilance and risk management of medicines at the MHRA.
"Our research has shown that existing electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-containing products on the market are not good enough to meet this public health priority."
He said the government would seek to license all nicotine-replacement products, including gums, patches and mouth sprays, to ensure customers are provided with quality products.
"It's not about banning products that some people find useful, it's about making sure that smokers have an effective alternative that they can rely on to meet their needs," he said.
The benefits of e-cigarettes are that they provide a nicotine hit and the sensation of smoking without the tar, ash and toxins found in conventional cigarettes.
