A recent report recommends that dialogue and communication, along with consultation, remain essential to foster an appropriate regulatory framework
MONTREAL, March 13, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Nicoventures Ltd urges Ontario regulators to take into consideration the recent report from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) before proceeding with Bill 45. The reports recommends amongst other things, proper consultations with the public and stakeholders with respect to the regulation of electronic cigarettes, something that Ontario has not done before announcing potential regulation in the province.
"We are optimistic the recommendations of the Committee will echo with provinces and lay the groundwork for an open, democratic review and regulatory process, leading to more consultation with experts and stakeholders," said Caroline Martel, spokesperson for Nicoventures in Canada. "There is a responsibility to share knowledge and have an informed dialogue on the product and to contribute to a larger understanding of vaping."
Nicoventures believes legislating e-cigarettes is needed and should include such things as product standards (including child resistant packaging and safety standards), appropriate marketing and distribution freedom as well as allowing for swift and flexible innovation freedoms and, most importantly, prohibition on sales to minors. However, this should be considered following a thorough consultation process.
Nicoventures is pleased that HESA was tasked with the review of electronic cigarettes and that its report represents a first step in the right direction to develop a regulatory framework for this new category. Furthermore, as e-cigarettes are not tobacco products and should not be regulated as such. A growing consensus among many thought leaders and research scientists in the public health community across the world is that e-cigarettes are generally significantly safer than their combustible tobacco counterparts. Research is constantly evolving in this area and regulations are needed to establish standardized means of ensuring quality control and to help prevent e-cigarettes from undermining tobacco control efforts to reduce smoking.
"We hope the Committee's report will open the door to dialogue and further consultation which will help provincial and federal levels of governments to develop an appropriate regulatory framework for this new industry and deter from a patchwork approach to legislating and regulating," concluded Ms. Martel.
About Nicoventures
Nicoventures' focus is the development and production of innovative, high quality inhaled nicotine products that meet relevant regulatory requirements. We currently manufacture e-cigarettes and e-liquids that contain pharmaceutical grade nicotine, water, propylene glycol and/or glycerol and flavours. Our products are currently available and marketed in the United Kingdom under the Vype and Voke brand names, the latter, which has been designed for smokers who want to reduce, replace or stop smoking, obtained an initial medicinal product licence by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), but is not currently available or marketed at this time. Based out of the UK, Nicoventures is in the non-combustibles Next Generation Products division and a wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BAT). Products manufactured by Nicoventures are not yet available in Canada. To learn more, visit us at www.nicoventures.co.uk or discovers our products at www.voke.co.uk and uk.govype.com.
SOURCE Nicoventures Ltd
Image with caption: "Nicoventures Ltd (CNW Group/Nicoventures Ltd)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150313_C7373_PHOTO_EN_13293.jpg
Caroline Martel, For Nicoventures Ltd, 514-240-9856, [email protected]
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