UK MPs urge government to combat misinformation on vaping research

A cross-party group of MPs and members of the House of Lords have released the report, ‘State of the Vaping Nation’ at a reception in the Houses of Parliament which took place yesterday on the 20th of November. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for e-cigarettes, was formed with the aim of exploring the right regulatory approach to adopt towards vaping products, whilst increasing knowledge and understanding of the products amongst peers.

The dangerous misinformation circulating about e-cigarettes

In what is the first report published by the group, the parliamentarians referred to the research available in favour of e-cigarettes whilst emphasizing that there is a consensus amongst several health groups such Public Health England (PHE), and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), that vaping products are significantly safer than regular cigarettes. The report added that despite this, unfortunately there is a widespread impression amongst the public that the devices are as harmful as combustible cigarettes.

 

“The positive public health message regarding vaping has up to now been failing to get across to the UK’s remaining 7.6 million smokers. The Public Health England campaign was a welcome change and has had an obvious effect, but it needs to be sustained, not just a one off, “ said Chairman of the group, Rugby MP Mark Pawsey.

“That’s why today we are calling upon the government to ensure such campaigns become the norm, not an exception, so that the UK can fully exploit the public health potential of vaping. Without these campaigns the current mixed messages surrounding vaping will continue and create a confusing picture,” he added.

Norman Lamb MP, Chairman of the Science and Technology Select Committee, which is currently conducting research about the relative health potential of vaping, also spoke at the reception, “I was horrified when the EU went down the route of health regulation [of vaping products]…I thought it was a complete own goal.”

Earlier this month, Vice-Chair of the APPG, Gareth Johnson, led a debate pertaining to the topic in the House of Commons, urging lawmakers to take advantage of the success that Stoptober had this year, and launch a year round campaign to keep promoting vaping as a smoking cessation or harm reduction tool.

Smokers wanting to switch should not face “unnecessary hurdles”

In a press release about yesterday’s event, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), said “members of the vaping industry also gave evidence in Parliament, explaining the restrictions placed on them, despite the impact they know it has on helping smokers to quit.” A member of the association who was present at the reception, John Dunne, added “Smokers who want to switch to vaping should not be faced with unnecessary hurdles that may hinder their transition. For example, arbitrary restrictions on liquid strengths and e-liquid bottle sizes, and advertising bans akin to those for tobacco products make little or no sense from a public health perspective.”