E-cigarette prohibited a drug trade?

Federal Government assesses e-cigarettes as pharmaceuticals

29/02/2012

The success story of e-cigarettes could come to a sudden end, because the federal government has classified nikontinhaltige electric cigarettes as a required drug. The sale of the nicotine-containing liquid that is evaporated in e-cigarettes without proper authorization would therefore be illegal.

The response of the Federal Government to a small request from the Left Bundestag faction brings explosive force to the market for e-cigarettes. Because that nicotine-containing liquid is regarded in the opinion of the Federal Government as a drug subject to authorization. If the approval is missing, a sale or trade is prohibited. The coveted electric glow sticks, could therefore be practically operated only with the still available Liquiden without nicotine.

Up to two million users of the e-cigarette
According to the manufacturer's information, up to two million users of the e-cigarette in Germany could face considerable restrictions as the federal government is no longer allowed to trade nicotine-containing liquids in its present form. So far, the legal situation has been rather opaque, with some states, such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria opted for a ban, while others took no action against the sale of e-cigarettes. After the Bundestag faction of the Left had demanded a legal clarification in a small request from the Federal Government, they announced on Monday that the e-cigarettes should be classified as drugs or medical devices as soon as nicotine is evaporated. A sale of nicotine-containing liquids without authorization is prohibited. The use of e-cigarettes, however, is still allowed, but not everywhere, so the position of the federal government. E-cigarette smokers must comply with non-smoker protection laws, which prohibit, for example, smoking in train stations, trams, trains or buses. Here, too, the individual country laws to protect non-smokers

Also prohibited Internet trade in nicotine-containing liquids
With regard to the frequently used distribution channels of e-cigarettes and liquids over the Internet, the Federal Government stated that online commerce was also prohibited. With the dispatch dealers offend against the medicament law, why the Liquide „be secured and confiscated“ can, explained the federal government. According to media reports, this has already happened in a first big raid. In two searches in Schwelm (North Rhine-Westphalia) and the Region of Hannover were accordingly seized 45,000 bottles of e-cigarette liquid by customs. The Health Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Barbara Steffens (Alliance 90 / The Green) sees itself in their rejection of E-cigarette affirmed and let in view of the opinion of the Federal Government on a spokesman to say that North Rhine-Westphalia's previous „Line again clearly confirmed“ has been. At the end of last year, the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister of Health had already described the sale of Liquide as "illegal" because the substances in this country are not licensed.

Health risks of e-cigarettes
The potential health risks also played a key role in the ban on e-cigarettes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Above all, the absence of long-term studies on the health consequences was now also a major criticism in the Federal Government's communication. „The Federal Government takes a possible health risk by the e-cigarettes, which have been on the market for some years, very seriously“, so the official government opinion. As a reason for the concern about possible health risks, the government officials call, for example, propylene glycol, which forms 90 percent of e-cigarette steam. Propylene glycol could „Acute irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes“ cause and besides „Impaired respiratory function“ condition, explained the federal government. Also be „Side effects such as narrowing of the airways in a recent study in e-cigarette smokers already demonstrated after five minutes“ the Federal Government's communication. In addition, the policy of the e-cigarette is not to be underestimated as an entry-level product, especially among young people. (Fp)

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E-Cigarette: Do not underestimate the health hazard
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E-cigarette less harmful than cigarettes?

Image: Viktor Mildenberger