Imperial Brands proposes measures to regulate e-cigarettes

On June 7th, Imperial Brands released a statement on its official website proposing the establishment of a new retail licensing scheme in the UK to improve compliance, review flavor naming regulations to reduce appeal to young people, and strengthen monitoring of online advertising and promotion.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in the UK has recently opened a public consultation on how to tackle the issue of underage use of e-cigarettes. The OHID is seeking input from stakeholders on how to maintain e-cigarettes as a tool for adult smoking cessation while also reducing the opportunities for minors to use them.

Imperial Tobacco suggested in response to the consultation to increase product quality and safety standards to ensure that adult smokers have confidence in switching to e-cigarette products. They also recommended collaborating with the industry to increase support for local authorities in cracking down on non-compliant behavior. Their specific opinions are as follows:

To improve compliance, a new retail license program will be established. Taste naming regulations will be reviewed to limit appeal to young people. Regulations for online advertising and promotion will be strengthened. Product quality and safety standards will be raised to ensure adult smokers are confident in turning to e-cigarettes. Collaboration with the industry will increase support for local authorities in combating noncompliant behavior. "We want to ensure that smokers have confidence in using our products and that young people are not attracted to them," said Oliver Kutz, UK and Ireland General Manager for Imperial Tobacco, in a statement.

We welcome contributions to OHID's call for evidence on teenage use of electronic cigarettes.

In a statement, Kutz stated that electronic cigarette products should only be used by existing adult smokers and adult users, and should not be used by children. The government, industry, and regulatory agencies must work together to establish a regulatory framework that supports the important role of electronic cigarettes in helping adult smokers quit smoking, while also preventing those under 18 from being attracted to and accessing these products.

The Imperial Tobacco company has announced a series of measures concerning product standards, flavor and naming regulations, as well as aspects of retail environment. In order to eliminate irresponsible behavior and improve trust in this significant product category, a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach is required.