Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
640. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health given that many smokers have found e-cigarettes a good substitute for smoking, and that there has been a huge increase in people giving up smoking by using e-cigarettes, if it is legal for any public, private or semi-State company to ban e-cigarettes or any other electronic mechanism that administers nicotine from an office setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8977/14]
View answerThe item the Deputy refers to is an e-cigarette. My Department does not have information on the number of smokers using e-cigarettes to assist them in giving up smoking.
Tobacco Free Ireland, Ireland’s tobacco control policy, states that the general consensus at European level is that there is a lack of research in relation to the long term health effects of e-cigarettes and a lack of sufficient evidence that they aid with smoking cessation.
In order to harmonise regulation of e-cigarettes across EU Member States, the new Tobacco Products Directive,which still has to be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe will, inter alia, provide for the regulation of e-cigarettes. The Tobacco Directive will
- set mandatory safety and quality requirements e.g. on nicotine content, ingredients and devices, as well as refill mechanisms etc., for e-cigarettes.
- make health warnings and information leaflets obligatory,
- introduce notification requirements for manufacturers and importers of e-cigarettes,
- impose stricter rules on advertising and monitoring of market developments.
The Tobacco Products Directive does not cover rules on smoke free environments in relation to e-cigarettes.
As e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco they are not prohibited under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 to 2011. Agencies can, however, on a voluntary basis have policies in this regard.
