New eCig Petition
There is a new Petition doing the rounds Withdraw new TPD regulations that are affecting the vape industry and at the time of publishing has hit 5,600 signatures which is over half needed for the British Parliament to issue a response.
The petition started by Josh Cobb also shares his statement “I believe all new regulations regarding vaping should be withdrawn, as a healthier alternative to smoking this shouldn’t regulate in the sense that items are illegal to obtain but rather supported to assist those on giving up smoking and a healthier choice that I’d 97% safer than smoking” along with a link to the new regulations. You can see this article at e-Cigarettes Regulations for Consumer Products which was published in February but has been updated and amended multiple times in the past month.
Australia Turns Back on Harm Reduction
Australia continues their charge into the health reduction abyss as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reviews its position on electronic cigarettes. Despite pressure from New Zealand legalizing eCigs last month the TGA has decided to continue in their quest to criminalise such products and their use. According to the TGA, the risks associated with nicotine poisoning are far too dangerous for vaping to be tolerated and allowed on the open market. Despite a long list of experts and research groups lobbying and writing to the TGA, they are appearing to ignore all scientific evidence and force Australians to continue with only traditional smoking as their option.
David Nutt who is a well-respected drugs expert and professor at Imperial College London said the TGA’s position on the matter is “perplexing and disturbing. No explanation for this inexplicable preferential treatment for the cigarette supply chain is offered, and, in our view, no justification is possible. Millions of Europeans report that they have used e-cigarettes to quit smoking. Why do authorities in Australia wish to deny that option to Australians?”.
Is the TGA in big tobacco and big pharma’s hand? We would think that is the only logical explanation for all of this stupidity and mess.