Call for Stricter Regulations on E-Cigarettes in Wales

According to an article on Dailypost on December 10th, Public Health Wales (PHW) has called for stricter tobacco-style regulations on e-cigarettes. The organization emphasizes that e-cigarettes should adhere to the same regulations as traditional tobacco products in terms of marketing, packaging, and display.

In response to the UK government's consultation on smoking control and youth smoking, the Public Health Agency of Wales has once again voiced strong support for raising the legal age limit for tobacco sales in the UK. The organization also advocates for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes, citing its close association with the increasing rates of smoking among children and adolescents, as well as the harm it poses to the environment.

The Welsh Public Health Agency has expressed concerns that while e-cigarettes have helped adults quit smoking, the rising trend of e-cigarette use among non-smokers, particularly among children and adolescents, is worrying and raises concerns about companies creating a new market for nicotine addiction. They emphasize that ensuring products are not marketed in a way that attracts young people is crucial in addressing these issues.

Dr. Julie Bishop, Director of the Health Improvement Department at Public Health Wales, has stated, "Public Health Wales supports taking strong action to raise the age limit for tobacco sales in the UK, as well as introducing new regulations on the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes, bringing them in line with traditional tobacco products. We welcome the UK government's specific consultation on packaging and display of e-cigarettes, and firmly believe that these products should adopt standardized packaging with plain colors and no logos, just like current tobacco products.

She further emphasized that e-cigarettes should be stored behind the counter, rather than being displayed in front of customers, in order to align with the sales approach of traditional tobacco products. This measure is highly effective in controlling smoking among children and adolescents.

In response to the consultation, the Public Health Agency for Wales has also called for action on the flavors of e-cigarettes. This includes restrictions on the naming rules for e-cigarette products, such as establishing a statutory descriptive flavor list, as well as banning flavors that are particularly appealing to teenagers.

The Welsh Public Health Agency previously welcomed a plan to raise the legal smoking age by one year annually and allowed it to be voted upon in Parliament without requiring a formal vote.

The UK government launched a consultation on "Creating a Smoke-Free Next Generation and Tackling Youth Smoking" on October 12, 2024. Following this, during the King's Speech on November 7, the government explicitly stated its intention to introduce legislation within the current parliamentary term to combat smoking and youth smoking.