Not all electronic cigarettes comply with EU directives - authority

A number of electronic cigarettes found on the market do not comply with the essential health and safety requirements of the European directives under which such products fall, or are being claimed to fall, the Technical Regulations Division within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority said.

It said in a statement that all electronic cigarettes should have the CE mark.

Moreover, products which either claim to assist the user to stop smoking and/or have other health claims and/or have a nicotine content of 10mg per ml or more fall under the Medical Devices Regulations.

Electronic cigarettes and their use must also comply with the provisions of legislation on tobacco products, even if they do not contain any nicotine, the division said.

It advised consumers that inhaling vapours could not in any way be considered healthy.

“It is evident from research carried out by the authority that a number of people are importing these cigarettes personally over the internet and are then selling them to consumers, or even to some retail outlets, on a one-to-one basis.

“The Technical Regulations Division reminds such economic operators that they are and remain personally responsible for the products they are placing on the market and that they may be liable for legal action should the products not conform to all applicable requirements.”

The division said that consumers who wished to report any unsafe product could do so directly on the authority’s website, tel: 2395 2000.

http://mccaa.org.mt/loadfile/edec0589-219c-40d7-bb1c-f1d697799d8a