UK Health Department Considers Recommending Vapes as Smoking Alternative

May.11.2022
UK health department review suggests promotion of e-cigarettes as less harmful replacement for smokers.

As part of the effort to create a "smoke-free" UK by 2030, a review commissioned by the UK Department of Health is set to release a report this month recommending the promotion of e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative for current smokers. Javed Khan was appointed by UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid in February to lead the investigation.

 

In my review, I have considered a range of key interventions that will have the greatest impact. For example, I have researched promoting e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative; the need for the national healthcare system to play a greater role in ending smoking, and the necessity to tackle illegal tobacco sales," said Khan in response to his appointment.

 

Tobacco is the biggest cause of preventable disease and death, with an estimated quarter of all cancer deaths in 2019 attributed to smoking. Despite national progress, such as the 2007 indoor smoking ban, smoking rates are still high in some areas of the country, particularly in poorer regions.

 

I have been entrusted by the Minister of Health and Social Security to assist the government in achieving the goal of becoming a smoke-free nation by 2030. The evidence clearly indicates that taking action against smoking is crucial for significant improvements in the country's health and wealth.

 

The United Kingdom is a leader in reducing tobacco harm. For a long time, the UK has been at the forefront of supporting the use of safer alternative nicotine products for smoking cessation. As a result, the smoking rate in the UK is currently at its lowest level since the introduction of cigarettes several decades ago.

 

For a long time, the UK has been at the forefront of supporting the use of safer alternatives to nicotine products as a means of quitting smoking. As a result, smoking rates in the country have been historically low since the emergence of cigarettes several decades ago.

 

The UK government released a document last summer entitled "Towards a Smokefree Generation, A Tobacco Control Plan for England," which encourages different regions to develop their own tobacco control strategies. The focus is on electronic cigarettes and other harm reduction or smoking cessation aids.

 

The British Medical Association (BMA) has expressed support for these developments and recommends that electronic cigarettes be licensed as medication, allowing doctors to recommend them to smokers attempting to quit.

 

Source: VapingPost

 

It is possible that vapes may receive official authorization to be used as medical products for those seeking to quit smoking, according to a recent report by the Vaping Post. The UK government is considering licensing vapes for this purpose, which could provide a new avenue for people to quit smoking and improve public health. This development could mark a significant shift in the regulation of smoking cessation products and the vaping industry as a whole.

 

This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

New Zealand Vape Company Alt Becomes Government Partner After Suing Over Nicotine Limits
New Zealand Vape Company Alt Becomes Government Partner After Suing Over Nicotine Limits
Health NZ signed a NZD 500,000 contract with New Zealand-owned vape company Alt NZ Limited in December 2025 for its free vape kit programme for smokers, with more than 7,000 kits distributed so far.
Mar.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Daegu Jung-gu: liquid e-cigarettes with synthetic nicotine to be fined in nonsmoking areas under revised Tobacco Business Act
Daegu Jung-gu: liquid e-cigarettes with synthetic nicotine to be fined in nonsmoking areas under revised Tobacco Business Act
Daegu’s Jung-gu District announced on Feb. 10 that, following amendments to the Tobacco Business Act that explicitly classify liquid e-cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine as “tobacco” (effective April 24, 2026), the district will expand regulations to include fines for vaping such products in designated nonsmoking areas. The district health office said smokers/vapers could face an administrative fine of up to 100,000 won for using synthetic-nicotine liquid e-cigarettes in smoke-free zones
Feb.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA schedules online roundtable to gather small manufacturers’ input on ENDS PMTA requirements
FDA schedules online roundtable to gather small manufacturers’ input on ENDS PMTA requirements
FDA announced it will convene a Feb. 10, 2026 roundtable with small tobacco product manufacturers to gather feedback on PMTA submissions for ENDS products. The discussion will be viewable online, and a public docket is open for comments through March 12, 2026.
Feb.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Cambodia Siem Reap raid seizes over 10,000 e-cigarette items; two arrested
Cambodia Siem Reap raid seizes over 10,000 e-cigarette items; two arrested
Police in Siem Reap, Cambodia, seized 10,168 items of e-cigarette paraphernalia during a raid on February 28, 2026, and arrested two suspected sellers and owners of the premises.
Mar.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
France’s HAS to Address Role of E-Cigarettes in Updated Smoking-Cessation Guidelines, Tells 2Firsts
France’s HAS to Address Role of E-Cigarettes in Updated Smoking-Cessation Guidelines, Tells 2Firsts
2Firsts has learned that France’s national health authority, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), confirmed the role of e-cigarettes will be addressed in updated national smoking-cessation guidelines expected by the end of 2026. HAS said the recommendations will focus on clinical and public-health considerations, will not set technical standards for vaping products, and that current studies are insufficient to clearly assess risks and benefits across different product categories.
Mar.10
South Korea online purchasing fuels spread among younger groups; online drug cases share climbs
South Korea online purchasing fuels spread among younger groups; online drug cases share climbs
Police said detections of new drugs disguised as e-cigarettes reached 1,206 cases through September last year, up from 941 in 2022, and the number of detected drug types increased from 26 to 33 over the same period.
Feb.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai