Electronic Cigarette is criticized as hazardous nicotine delivery devices in NEJM…

Electro Cigarettes recently did an article based on the FDA’s decision to make the electronic cigarette be classed as a tobacco product and not regulate it as a medicinal product. With many different types of reactions to this decision many thought this was good for the electronic cigarette industry but others were left confused as they felt that the electronic cigarette does still deliver nicotine which contains a heating element to vaporize the nicotine solution. However the FDA’s decision to regulate the electronic cigarette as a tobacco product had been forced as the strength of the federal appeals court ruling was too strong, they had in the USA had put together a strong case that the electronic cigarette acted more like a tobacco product than that of a medicinal one. Electro Cigarettes stand by such decisions since we as electronic cigarette developers and manufacturers know more about our industry and products than those who are trying to classify the product.  The MHRA who are acting as the regulatory committee in the UK have as we reported recently accepted they need more time to research the product and will make a decision in the next 2 years, a very sensible decision as far as the electronic cigarette industry was concerned.

The decision that was made has in fact infuriated many in the medical community and Science Daily has told us about a “Perspective” column published in the New England Journal of Medicine attacking the decision and looking at the present regulatory climate that surrounds the electronic cigarette. It’s written by Nathan K. Cobb of Georgetown University Medical Centre and David B. Abrams, executive director of the Schroeder Institute.

“The court’s decision that electronic cigarettes should be regulated as tobacco products and not as drug-delivery devices has substantially delayed the FDA regulatory process that normally protects the public health. It has the practical effect of allowing manufacturers to sell potentially dangerous refined nicotine products directly to consumers,” Cobb says in a statement. “It is entirely possible that future modifications to the products will improve the efficiency of nicotine delivery and could dramatically increase the risks of addiction, abuse and serious overdose.”

They claim that the FDA and medical committee need to work together in order to provide a safe route to providing electronic cigarette devices to the customer marketplace.

This is a very good way forward for the electronic cigarette industry however big electronic cigarette companies have already gone through such processes and we do hold all the relevant certificates along with extensive scientific analysis and tests of our products to ensure such safety.  Electro Cigarettes will endeavour to work with other electronic cigarette providers and also the ECITA to help our industry self-regulate as we feel that with the medicinal committee’s help this will be the best route forward, they will have the power to make the electronic cigarette industry credible whilst we can look after the regulation and safety of our products with the ultimate aim being that our industry will stay around and help more and more smokers use our devices as a healthier alternative to smoking traditional products.

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