Sale of electronic cigarettes may not be in the best interests of the public

摘要

ELECTRONIC cigarettes are articles that may resemble a cigarette and deliver nicotine to the user via inhalation. Currently these articles are not regulated as medicinal products and therefore do not have marketing authorisations as medicinal products. They arealso not currently nominated as medical devices,A large variety of licensed nicotine replacement products with marketing authorisation are available in a range of formulations, including a licensed (nonelectronic) inhalator product. These medicines benefit from assurances of quality, safety and efficacy from processes and standards underpinned by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Articles which do not have marketing authorisations do not benefit from the same quality control processes which raises the risk that sales may not be in the best interest of patients.