EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis asserts his position of the need for further scientific evidence on the risks of electronic cigarettes. 

When questioned by MEP Joëlle Mélin (ENF) on 5 October 2016 about the inclusion of electronic cigarettes in the Tobacco Directive 2014/40/EU, Commissioner Andriukaitis insists on the lack of conclusive evidence on long-term health effects of e-cigarettes, their use patterns and potential to facilitate smoking cessation. These have deemed it necessary for Article 20 of the directive to adopt a precautionary approach to their regulation with emphasis on safety, quality and consumer protection.

Contrary to the views of Mrs Mélin, the Commissioner underlines that the Commission report PRECISE COM(2016) 269 does not conclude that vaping is risk free. The report however points to a number of potential risks to public health relating to the use of e-cigarettes and highlights the need for further research.

Commissioner Andriukaitis concludes that the European Commission does not have the intention to review the regulation of e-cigarettes within the Tobacco Products Directive, but will continue to monitor developments relating to the use of these products. The Commission will submit a report in 2021 as required under Article 28(1) of the directive.

See original source.