EU sets new rules for e-cig users

Overruling national governments, the European Parliament defeated proposals to classify e-cigs as medicines, potentially greatly restricting their availability.

Instead they insisted that e-cigs with a nicotine content of 20mg/l or less should be regarded simply as consumer products.

E-cig manufacturers will have to ensure that refillable nicotine fluid containers are childproof and that spillage can be prevented, but a wide range of flavours will continue to be available.

National government ministers insisted that e-cigs with a stronger nicotine content should only be available if classified as pharmaceuticals, arguing that nicotine is an addictive substance.

MEPs also agreed new rules to beef up the warnings on cigarette packs, with bigger pictures and harsher words for smokers.

Health warnings will now take up 65% of the surface area of a cigarette packet after studies show that this has an impact on existing smokers and acts as a deterrent to young people thinking of starting.