After Federation of Commerce lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung announced that the current government would propose a ban on e-cigarette products by the end of June, a Nicoventures executive attempted to contact Hong Kong lawmakers to explain why a ban would be a disadvantageous move.
Nicoventures’ Asia Pacific director of legal and health affairs, Dr Stephen Jenkins, is currently in Hong Kong to brief local politicians and present research that advocates regulating e-cigarette products rather than banning them outright. Jenkins argues that because e-cigarettes contain no tar and are not burned during vaping , they are much, much safer than traditional cigarettes, by at least 95%. He presents lawmakers with data from two well-known studies by Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians to bolster his case.
Rules vary globally, but data remains consistent
“Our view on e-cigarettes as they currently exist in Europe is that there should be dedicated regulation to ensure they are only sold to smokers and not to under-18s, with quality standards to ensure the liquid and device are safe,” Dr Jenkins said. “The global data and record should be clear in one direction: they should be properly supplied and regulated. I would welcome a public discussion with the Hong Kong government and its demands for evidence.”
He pointed out that Canada and New Zealand are moving to regulate these products, and Australia is currently reconsidering its position. In addition, the WHO has backed away from supporting a total ban, and the organization is expected to formally announce its position at the Conference of the Parties, COP7, to be held in Delhi, India, this coming November.
Why wouldn't a ban work?
Nicoventures, a company founded in 2010 by BAT that manufactures and markets nicotine- free tobacco products, said that if the ban were implemented, vapers in Hong Kong would be forced to buy them from the black market, leading to increased criminal activity and production of untested and unsafe products. Therefore, only by introducing regulatory policies and quality standards would consumers be able to buy safe products.
Hope the government will review all the documents
Under the current Drugs and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138), nicotine is considered a hazardous substance, so while non-nicotine e-cigarette products are not regulated, nicotine-containing products in the same category are required to be registered with the Drugs and Poisons Commission before being sold or distributed. “I hope the government can provide more relevant arguments before proposing a total ban before LegCo,” said lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung in a hopeful speech for Hong Kong vapers, adding, “In the meantime, we must amend the medical regulations to keep e-cigarettes out of the reach of minors.”
This article was published on Vapingpost by Diane Caruana and translated by The Vape Club.
