WHO advocates tightening controls over the sale of e-cigarettes

World Health Organization (WHO) spoke for the “expeditious adoption of measures” to protect the population from the harm of electronic cigarettes. WHO noted that e-cigarettes have not proven effective in combating tobacco smoking, but have led to an increase in smoking among young people.

“Children are introduced to the harmful habit of smoking e-cigarettes from an early age, putting them at risk of becoming addicted to nicotine,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. “I urge countries to take strong action to prevent the spread of e-cigarettes to protect their citizens, especially children and young people.”

According to WHO, the sale of e-cigarettes is banned in 34 countries, 88 countries do not set a minimum age for their sale, and 74 countries have no regulatory restrictions on their sale at all.

The organization believes that in those countries where restrictions or bans on the sale of electronic cigarettes have already been introduced, it is necessary to tighten control over compliance with these requirements. And in those countries where the sale of electronic cigarettes is still permitted, it is necessary to take measures that would reduce the attractiveness of such products for consumers and the harm they cause to the population. As such measures, WHO cites the introduction of a ban on the use of any flavorings, restrictions on the content and quality of nicotine, as well as related taxes.

Read about how the Russian authorities are going to limit the spread of electronic cigarettes in the Kommersant article. “There is no taste or color of vape”.

Kirill Sarkhanyants