Monday, 18th May 2009

Electronic cigarettes are legal, but ...

The Public Health Regulation Division is closely following developments in the use of electronic cigarettes, as well as the recommendation of health institutions, and local policies and laws will be revised as and when necessary.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli said this in reply to a parliamentary question by Leo Brincat (PL), who had asked if the government could review its policy with regard to electronic cigarette kits which worked with replacement nicotine cartridges. Minister Dalli said that under the laws of Malta, any product which included substances related to tobacco, such as nicotine, was classified as a tobacco product. This meant that all regulations applying to tobacco products also held good for such products. Although electronic cigarettes could be traded legally, they were under the same restrictions, including advertising, as other tobacco products.