What to consider when regulating electronic cigarettes : pros, cons and unintended consequences
Cet article passe en revue les avantages et les inconvénients des principaux cadres réglementaires existants (réglementation des produits de consommation générale, des dispositifs médicaux ou des produits du tabac) pour la vente des cigarettes électroniques
Many public health experts, medical research societies, large health organizations and policy makers have expressed concerns about the increased popularity of electronic cigarettes and have pushed for more restrictive measures ranging from complete bans to tight regulations of these products either as medicines or as tobacco products. But these concerns have never been adequately qualified nor quantified. Without judicious assessment and thorough evaluation, regulations may have unintended consequences that can do more damage than good in public health terms. In this article, we will appraise the existing prominent regulatory frameworks for e-cigarettes, namely, general consumer product, medicinal product and tobacco product regulation, to highlight their pros and cons. Moreover, we provide concrete examples of the unintended consequences which may arise from inappropriate regulatory action.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395915000687