European Parliament Approves New Rules for Restricting E Cigarette Use

                                  

The European Parliament has reportedly approved new regulations for subjecting electronic cigarettes to certain restrictions which are currently applicable on other tobacco containing products. In accordance with these new rules, electronic cigarettes have to be made inaccessible to children, the advertising and marketing of these products will be prohibited in Europe, the e-cigarette packages will need safety warnings and they will not contain more than 20 milligrams of nicotine. 

Parliamentarians have revealed to the New York Times that this new decision taken by the European Parliament will affect the makers of electronic cigarettes to a considerable extent. According to them, this new move is likely to be disputed in court.

Source: nation.time.com, Date: 27^th February 2014

B. C. Govt Gets Ready To Fight Off Smoking Addiction

With its free quit smoking program, the government of British Columbia (B.C.) is boosting up its fight against nicotine addiction. According to news sources, the government of B.C. is expecting a huge participation in its anti-smoking program. Large numbers of smokers choose to quit smoking in the New Year and hence the B.C. Health Ministry is anticipating that orders for prescription –based pills or nicotine-replacement therapies — such patches or gum will increase this month and till keep pouring in till March.

 

The B.C. government started the anti-smoking program in the month of September, 2011. However, according to the government, it was happy to see that it was able to fill above 161,453 orders.

 

Conventionally, the B.C. government has not provided for the expenses of maximum quit smoking therapies. But in accordance with the anti-smoking program, people are entitled to receive free, 12 week supply of prescription-based quit smoking medicines or a free supply of patches/gum for one time on a yearly basis.

 

The B.C. government pays for the cost of stop smoking medicines such as bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (sold as brand names chantix and champix). According to a disclosure by the government, around 23,752 people from Vancouver have filled quit smoking orders till now.  

 

Source: timescolonist.com, Date: 13^th January 2013