THE WORLD HEALTH Organisation (WHO) has issued a damning indictment against e-cigarettes.
The health body of the United Nations has called for a range of tougher measures to be implemented against the use of the devices. These include banning their indoor use and preventing their sale to children.
It was suggested that the indoor use of the devices should be banned “until exhaled vapour is proven to be not harmful to bystanders”.
International meeting on e-cigarettes
The announcement comes ahead of the meeting of an international convention on tobacco control in Moscow in October. At this event international guidelines on e-cigarettes are likely to be decided.
The WHO were also critical of claims by manufacturers that e-cigarettes are not harmful. The body said that manufacturers should obtain, “convincing supporting scientific evidence and obtain regulatory approval” before being allowed to make any further statements.
There were also calls for a ban to be imposed on flavoured versions of the vapour devices and for restrictions to be made on their availability in vending machines.
E-cigarettes in Ireland
The Irish Government is currently in the process of drafting legislation relating to non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes).
Ireland is subject to the EU 2014 Tobacco Products Directive. Under the Directive, member states have two years to adopt measures into domestic legislation. Included in the measures are a number of actions against e-cigarettes.
In the 12 months from May 2013 to May 2014 use of e-cigarettes in Ireland rose by 500%.
- Additional reporting by AFP, 2014
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