The European Parliament supported the provisions that provide for the treatment of electronic cigarettes as consumer products

EU Council and the European parliament are in dispute about electronic cigarettes . The most controversial issue calls to regulate the levels of nicotine and selling supplemented cartridges.

- We are at the finish of this very long and contentious negotiations. The last issue that remained to be resolved, this electronic cigarettes , most of the remaining issues is either agreed or negotiated close - said on Monday EU diplomat . - The European Parliament supported the provisions that provide for the treatment of electronic cigarettes as consumer products , while the EU Council supported in its position covered by the provisions of pharmaceuticals . Council has made ​​significant concessions , opening the door to treat them as consumer products , but the simultaneous restrictions - he added. He explained that this would be a ban on advertising , sales workers, and left to member states to regulate the issue of flavors for e - cigarettes. At the same time , according to this proposal , EU countries - if they wish - could be more restrictive and treat cigarettes as pharmaceuticals .

The hardest and most controversial issue is the refillable cartridges for electronic cigarettes .

Despite such concessions from ministers - said the diplomat - PE " wants more " . - The hardest and most controversial issue is refillable cartridges ( electronic cigarette ) - he said. He explained that the EP insists that the cigarettes were sold with uzupełnialnymi contributions , the Council wants to disposables. It is possible , however, that the ministers would fit for refillable cartridges , but with lower levels of nicotine . Council wanted to nicotine electronic cigarettes only at the level of 2 mg / ml, and the EP originally spoke with a maximum level of 30 mg / ml , now talking about 20 mg / ml.

- When you look at the parameters of the operating fluids of the contributions they have capacity of 10 milliliters , which when multiplied by 20 milligrams ( per milliliter) gives a concentration of 200 milligrams of nicotine in the cartridge. That's a lot , according to one estimate is equivalent to two packs of cigarettes a day for a week - said the diplomat . - The second is the fear that it might open the door of many abuses , if you have such a contribution , which can be completed , it is not necessarily the nicotine , it can be a drug. Heroin addicts may find it attractive way heroin - he noted. The diplomat pointed out that the EP has made contributions " red line " due to " the strong pressure of the industry" .

electronic cigarettes

- At the moment the red line to the Council is that we do not want operating fluids cartridges. If Parliament will absolutely insist (...) , it's hard to say what will be acceptable to the Council (...) . But it was certainly expressed a lot of concern about the level of nicotine that can be used in these cartridges . Can you imagine a more restrictive regulations regarding the type of cartridges , which can be used - suggested .

He estimated that there is a risk that in the event of an impasse in negotiations at this point an article about electronic cigarettes will be removed from the tobacco directive , which would result in a lack of EU regulation of this " exploding " market. - For many member states would be the worst possible outcome - he said.

Directive tobacco in the European Commission's intention was to prohibit the sale of cigarettes in the EU slim and flavored cigarettes , including menthol to discourage especially young Europeans to smoke. However, the withdrawal from the market of horns do not want or PE or Member States. In October , the European Parliament in favor of the introduction of the EU ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes , but only for 8 years. Other flavors may be banned already in 2016

The EU wants to limit e - cigarettes

Furthermore, electronic cigarettes were supposed to be - the intention of the European Commission - treated as medical products, registered and sold mainly in pharmacies. Similar restrictions are demanding ministers , MEPs do not support them . E - cigarettes should be regulated , but should not be subject to the same principles as medical products, unless they are presented as having properties for " preventive " - says the EP.